Understanding how animals perceive body language and social cues
Official title: Functional maturation of neural circuits for biological motion perception and social engagement
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10687450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how animals, including people, understand movements and looks from others, and it aims to help us learn more about why some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have trouble picking up on these social signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,378,728 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2EY036251-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10687450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and young adults, particularly those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or exhibiting social communication challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have social communication difficulties or are outside the age range of 0-21 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social animals, including humans, interpret biological motion cues such as body posture and gaze direction. By studying the neural circuits involved in these processes in schooling fish, the research aims to uncover the developmental aspects of social brain circuits. This approach is particularly relevant for understanding social impairments in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as these children often struggle to recognize social cues. The research employs advanced methodologies to analyze the brain's response to biological motion across different developmental stages.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for social communication deficits in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding social behavior through similar approaches in animal models, indicating potential for success in this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lovett-Barron, Matthew — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Lovett-Barron, Matthew
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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.