Understanding how anxiety affects learning and behavior
Official title: Neurocomputational substrates of maladaptive uncertainty learning and avoidance in anxiety
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10989870 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how anxiety affects the way we learn to deal with uncertainty and avoid certain situations, using brain scans and computer models to understand what's happening in the brain, and it hopes to help people with anxiety by finding better ways to treat it based on real-life behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | February 19, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $170,777 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH122626-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10989870 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders who experience significant avoidance behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with anxiety who do not exhibit avoidance behaviors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how anxiety disorders disrupt the learning processes related to uncertainty and avoidance behaviors. It employs advanced neuroimaging and computational modeling techniques to explore the neural mechanisms underlying these disruptions. Patients may benefit from insights gained through ecological momentary assessments that capture real-time behaviors in anxiety. The research aims to identify specific patterns of behavior and brain activity associated with anxiety, which could inform more effective treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding anxiety through neuroimaging and computational modeling, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Vanessa — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Brown, Vanessa
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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.