Understanding how mood states are linked to brain activity and behavior

Behavioral and Neuronal Correlates of Human Mood States

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-10982498

This study is looking at how your speech and facial expressions can help track your mood in real-time, especially for people getting ready for epilepsy surgery, so that doctors can better understand and support your mental health.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-10982498 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how observable behaviors, such as speech patterns and facial expressions, can provide continuous and objective measures of mood. By using advanced video technology, the study aims to correlate these behaviors with brain activity in patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. Participants will have their mood assessed frequently while their audio-visual data is collected, allowing researchers to develop a model that predicts mood changes based on these behaviors. The goal is to improve mental health treatment by providing more accurate and timely assessments of mood.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with epilepsy who also have major depression and are undergoing surgical treatment.

Not a fit: Patients without epilepsy or those who do not have comorbid major depression may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better monitoring and treatment of mood disorders, enhancing patient care.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using behavioral indicators to assess mood, but this approach is innovative in its use of video-derived data in a clinical setting.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Affective Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.