Understanding how brain signals affect mood and behavior
Official title: Neural Mechanisms and Neuromodulation of Affective States
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10949333 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how surprises in our surroundings can affect our feelings and actions by examining brain activity in monkeys, which could help us find better ways to treat mood disorders like depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 23, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $127,305 |
| NIH project number | 1K99MH137315-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10949333 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing mood disorders, particularly those affected by prediction errors in their daily lives.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable mood disorders who do not experience significant fluctuations in affective states may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how violations of expectations in our environment lead to changes in our mood and behavior by studying brain activity. Using advanced neurophysiology techniques and computational models, the researchers aim to identify the specific brain circuits involved in processing these prediction errors. The study will involve observing the brain activity of macaques to understand how different types of prediction errors can influence affective states. This knowledge could help in developing targeted treatments for mood disorders like depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that specifically target the brain circuits involved in mood regulation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding brain mechanisms related to mood, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Folloni, Davide — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Folloni, Davide
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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.