Understanding and Adjusting How the Brain Processes Social and Emotional Information
Mapping and Modulating the Spatiotemporal dynamics of socio-affective processing.
This project aims to understand how the brain processes social and emotional cues, especially facial expressions, in people with certain brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11089563 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Interpreting human facial expressions is a key social skill that can be challenging for individuals with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and autism spectrum disorder. This research uses advanced brain monitoring in patients who are already undergoing invasive intracranial monitoring for treatment-resistant epilepsy and depression. By precisely mapping the brain's activity when processing social and emotional information, the goal is to identify specific signals that contribute to difficulties in social understanding. This detailed mapping could help us find new ways to improve social interaction and emotional responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with treatment-resistant epilepsy and depression who are already undergoing invasive intracranial monitoring.
Not a fit: Patients not undergoing invasive intracranial monitoring or those without treatment-resistant epilepsy or depression would not directly benefit from participation in this specific phase of the research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted therapies that help individuals with mood, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders better understand social cues and manage their emotions.
How similar studies have performed: While prior efforts to develop neuromodulation for socio-affective dysfunction have faced challenges, this approach uses a novel platform for invasive intracranial recording to provide unprecedented detail.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bijanki, Kelly Rowe — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Bijanki, Kelly Rowe
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.