Understanding how context influences decision-making in the brain
Official title: Multiscale imaging of context-dependent decision-making
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11061198 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain uses information from our surroundings to help make decisions, especially for people with conditions like schizophrenia, and it will use mice to learn more about how this works at a tiny level, which could lead to better treatments for those who struggle with thinking clearly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 14, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $50,937 |
| NIH project number | 5F30MH135661-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061198 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with psychiatric conditions that impair decision-making, such as schizophrenia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cognitive impairments or those not diagnosed with psychiatric disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain uses contextual information to guide decision-making, particularly in relation to psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia. By utilizing advanced imaging techniques such as 2-photon microscopy, the study aims to explore the specific brain areas involved in maintaining contextual information and how they influence behavior. The research will involve animal models, specifically mice, to gain insights into the cellular-level mechanisms that underlie these cognitive processes. This understanding could pave the way for developing new therapies for individuals with cognitive impairments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for improving decision-making abilities in patients with psychiatric disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding decision-making processes in the brain, but this approach using 2-photon microscopy in animal models is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gruskin, David Court — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Gruskin, David Court
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how octopuses integrate sensory information and make decisions
This study is exploring how octopuses use their arms to grip things by looking closely at their nervous system and movements, which could help us understand their amazing abilities better.
-
NoviGuide for Newborn Care in Pakistan
A small NIH grant to test a pocket-sized decision support tool for nurses and doctors to improve newborn care in Pakistan.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Shared decision-making to prevent cancer in South Africa
A multi-level, school-based program in South Africa helps families, teachers, and health workers make informed choices to prevent cervical and related cancers, especially where HIV is common.
-
Improving contraception decisions for women with substance use disorders after childbirth
A patient-centered decision tool called MyPath aims to help postpartum women with substance use disorders choose and keep effective contraception after giving birth.
-
Alcohol use and suicidal thoughts: how decision-making affects risk
This project looks at how acute alcohol use and people’s decision-making patterns relate to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adults.
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.