Understanding how brain injuries affect learning and depression.
Official title: MRI Markers of Feedback Timing during Learning in Individuals with TBI with and without Clinical Depression
Funded at Kessler Foundation, INC. · NIH-11031295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a traumatic brain injury affects learning in people who also have depression, and it uses brain scans to see how their brains respond to immediate versus delayed feedback during learning tasks, with the goal of finding better ways to help them recover.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kessler Foundation, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Hanover, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $325,352 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS121107-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury and may also be dealing with clinical depression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of traumatic brain injury or clinical depression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how traumatic brain injury (TBI) influences learning processes in individuals, particularly focusing on those who also experience clinical depression. By using MRI technology, the study aims to identify the brain mechanisms involved in learning when feedback is provided immediately versus after a delay. The findings could lead to improved rehabilitation strategies tailored to the unique needs of TBI patients, especially those with depressive symptoms. Participants will undergo assessments to understand how their brain responds to feedback during learning tasks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective rehabilitation strategies for individuals with TBI and depression, enhancing their learning and recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding brain mechanisms in similar populations can lead to significant advancements in rehabilitation techniques.
Where this research is happening
-
Kessler Foundation, INC.
East Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dobryakova, Ekaterina — Kessler Foundation, INC.
- Study coordinator: Dobryakova, Ekaterina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Biotype-based Personalization of Antidepressant Augmentation in Late-Life Depression
A multi-site study will test a computer-guided approach to choosing the best augmentation option for older adults with treatment-resistant depression.
-
Suubi-Mhealth: a mobile app to help Ugandan youth with HIV manage depression and ART adherence
A mobile app designed for 14–17 year olds in Uganda aims to support mental health and keep HIV treatment on track.
-
Group-based postpartum depression prevention: in-person vs. virtual delivery
A large study is testing whether the ROSE group program delivered virtually to pregnant people is just as helpful as the in-person version in preventing postpartum depression.
-
DESCANSO: A friendly CBT plan to ease depression, sleep problems, and fatigue in Latino cancer patients
A Spanish-speaking CBT program called DESCANSO is being tested to help Latino cancer patients feel less tired, sleep better, and happier.
-
Personalized iTBS for Depression: Faster, Targeted Brain Stimulation
A personalized, time-efficient brain stimulation approach may help people with treatment-resistant depression achieve better relief using tailored iTBS settings.
-
Ultrasound-guided brain circuit targets for treatment-resistant depression
This grant tests whether focused ultrasound can safely and reversibly adjust brain circuits linked to negative mood in people with treatment-resistant depression.
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.