Understanding how mood swings happen in bipolar disorder
Official title: DEcoding Emotional Dynamics Driving Mood Instability in Bipolar Disorder
Funded at Laureate Institute for Brain Research · NIH-11413545 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing a high-tech brain imaging approach to map how emotions flare and fade in people with bipolar disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Laureate Institute for Brain Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tulsa, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $282,102 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM121312-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413545 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with bipolar disorder who can participate in functional MRI tasks.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without bipolar disorder or those unable to complete MRI tasks may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced fMRI and machine learning to track moment-to-moment emotional states in individuals with bipolar disorder during a special Think and Regulate Affective States Task. By decoding brain activity at each moment and measuring how brain states change over time, the study aims to reveal the dynamic neural patterns associated with mood instability. The team will apply concepts like metastability and fractal scaling to quantify brain-state variability and use network control ideas to identify brain regions that drive emotional shifts. The goal is to create a high-resolution picture of how mood dynamics unfold, which could inform better-tailored treatments in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise targets for interventions to stabilize mood in bipolar disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous dynamic neuroimaging work suggests that time-resolved brain activity can reveal important mood-related patterns, but this approach is fairly novel in BD.
Where this research is happening
-
Laureate Institute for Brain Research
Tulsa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Misaki, Masaya — Laureate Institute for Brain Research
- Study coordinator: Misaki, Masaya
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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This study is looking at how a treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be improved for people with bipolar disorder by finding the best spots in the brain to help with mood swings, and it involves some brain scans and tests to make sure the chosen spots are effective.
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A rural-focused program tests whether birth doulas can boost confidence, support, and maternal health for new mothers with mood and anxiety concerns.
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Detailed brain mapping for bipolar disorder and major depression
Researchers are using thousands of MRI scans to map fine-grained brain structure differences in people with bipolar disorder and major depression compared with people without these conditions.
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.