Understanding Brain Activity in Early Psychosis
Imaging Hippocampal Function in Psychosis
This research looks at how brain activity changes in people experiencing early signs of psychosis to better understand conditions like schizophrenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11064091 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how the hippocampus, a part of the brain, changes in people with early psychosis. We know that in chronic schizophrenia, this area can be smaller, and in both early and later stages, it can be overactive. By studying these changes in people experiencing psychosis for the first time, we hope to learn more about why these conditions develop. The goal is to identify the specific timing and causes of these brain changes to help prevent the progression to schizophrenia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be acutely ill patients experiencing psychosis for at least one month but not more than two years, or healthy control subjects.
Not a fit: Patients with chronic schizophrenia who are not in the early stages of their illness may not directly benefit from this specific early intervention focus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier and more effective ways to intervene and potentially prevent the progression of early psychosis to schizophrenia.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific mechanisms are still being clarified, previous clinical and preclinical work has pointed to an imbalance in brain excitation as a plausible cause for the observed hyperactivity in psychosis.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heckers, Stephan — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Heckers, Stephan
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.