Understanding how memory and decision-making work in the brain
Official title: C3: Behavior Automation
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-10900697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain helps with remembering things and making decisions by training rodents on tasks where they need to gather information before choosing, and the findings could help improve understanding of these processes in both animals and people.
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 | August 8, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $292,318 |
| NIH project number | 5U19NS132720-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10900697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would be individuals with cognitive impairments or those interested in the underlying mechanisms of memory and decision-making.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to cognitive function or those not involved in animal research may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the neural mechanisms that underlie working memory and decision-making by training rodents on complex tasks that require them to gather evidence before making choices. The study utilizes advanced virtual-reality and non-virtual-reality setups to standardize the training of these animals, ensuring consistent and reliable data collection. As the project progresses, new automation tools will be developed to enhance the efficiency of animal care and data accuracy, ultimately improving the quality of research outcomes. The goal is to better understand cognitive processes that could inform future interventions in both animal and human studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding of cognitive functions that may benefit treatments for memory-related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding cognitive processes through similar behavioral training approaches in animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brody, Carlos D — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Brody, Carlos D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How neuropeptides could influence aging and Alzheimer’s risk
Researchers at Princeton are studying whether changing brain signaling chemicals called neuropeptides can extend healthy aging and reduce Alzheimer’s-related brain changes, with a focus on people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease dementia.
-
Sleep and aging brain resilience in a short-lived vertebrate model
A young-aged-friendly project explores how sleep quality affects brain health during aging, using a tiny, fast-lived fish model to understand Alzheimer’s-related changes.
-
How hepatitis C adapts to other species to help develop vaccines
Researchers are making a mouse-friendly version of hepatitis C so scientists can better test vaccines and understand the virus for people living with or at risk of hepatitis C.
-
Mapping how cells push and pull in living tissues
A science project at Princeton aims to map and control the forces between cells in 3D tissues to better understand cancer, development, and healing, with potential benefits for patients in the future.
-
Understanding how brain signals give rise to thinking using brain-wide recordings
Researchers at Princeton are developing new brain theories and computer tools to understand how complex neural signals relate to thinking and behavior.
-
Cancer metabolism revealed through mass spectrometry and isotope tracing
A scientist team at Princeton will study how cancer cells use nutrients by analyzing metabolites with advanced mass spectrometry and labeled tracers.
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.