Understanding how brain regions affect attention and reasoning.
Official title: Mechanistic dissection of cognitive thalamocortical engagement in attention and hierarchical reasoning.
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11079571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain parts of the brain help with attention and decision-making when things get tough, using tree shrews to learn more about these processes, which could help us understand conditions like schizophrenia better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 3, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $456,421 |
| NIH project number | 5P50MH132642-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11079571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, particularly those experiencing difficulties with attention and decision-making.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cognitive disorders or those who do not experience challenges with attention or reasoning may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of higher order thalamic regions in cognitive processing, particularly how they influence attention and decision-making under challenging conditions. By using tree shrews as a model organism, the study aims to explore the connections between thalamic engagement and cognitive tasks, which may provide insights into disorders like schizophrenia. The research will involve advanced techniques to observe brain behavior relationships and will collaborate with studies in macaques to enhance understanding of these mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new neurostimulation treatments for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding thalamic functions in cognitive processes, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Halassa, Michael M — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Halassa, Michael M
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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.