Understanding how brain mechanisms affect irritability in young children
Official title: Neural mechanisms of risk and resilience in early childhood irritability
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-10897811 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how young children, ages 3 to 6, react when they don’t get what they expect, to understand why some kids stay irritable while others grow out of it, which could help us find ways to support those who might struggle with their feelings as they get older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $678,026 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH121385-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10897811 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are children aged 3 to 6 years who exhibit signs of irritability.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 6 years or do not show irritability may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the brain mechanisms that contribute to irritability in children aged 3 to 6 years. By examining how children respond to situations where they do not receive expected rewards, the study aims to identify factors that lead to either persistence or remission of irritability as they grow older. The approach involves longitudinal assessments of neural circuitry changes, focusing on reward processing and inhibitory control. This could help in developing early interventions for children at risk of long-term mental health issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to early interventions that reduce the risk of persistent irritability and associated mental health disorders in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding the neural mechanisms of childhood irritability, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wiggins, Jillian Lee — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Wiggins, Jillian Lee
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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.