Understanding brain circuits behind hearing voices
Translational studies in humans and mice to test a circuit-level computational model of auditory hallucinations..
Researchers will combine brain-based computer models with experiments in people and mice to learn how brain circuit changes lead to hearing voices in psychosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249925 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will have me do simple listening and decision tasks while measuring behavior and brain activity to look for patterns linked to hearing voices. They will combine these human tests with experiments in mice where they manipulate dopamine in specific brain circuits and measure similar task behaviors. The team uses a new computational model that links exaggerated expectations in perception to activity in the dorsal striatum and related neurons. Together the human and mouse work aims to map how those circuit changes produce high-confidence false perceptions like auditory hallucinations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with psychotic disorders who experience auditory hallucinations and can complete behavioral testing would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without auditory hallucinations, those who cannot perform brief cognitive tasks, or those medically unstable are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could point to specific brain circuits to target for safer, more precise treatments for hearing voices.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies support links between striatal dopamine and hallucination-like task behavior in mice and humans, but combining a circuit-level computational model with parallel human and mouse experiments is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horga, Guillermo — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Horga, Guillermo
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.