Understanding how our brains group experiences and its link to anxiety
Project 1: Latent-cause inference as a fundamental cognitive process
This project explores how people's brains organize past experiences and how differences in this process might relate to anxiety and other mental health conditions.
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 ID | NIH-11167620 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our brains naturally group similar experiences together, which helps us learn and react to new situations. This project looks at how each person's brain uniquely creates these 'latent causes' or categories, such as how easily new categories are formed or how long they are believed to last. We believe that extreme differences in this brain process could contribute to mental health challenges like anxiety. By understanding these individual differences, we hope to find new ways to identify who might be more vulnerable to certain conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project is focused on understanding fundamental cognitive processes in a general population, particularly those with varying mental health symptom dimensions related to anxiety.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct therapeutic interventions would not receive benefit from this foundational research project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand and identify individuals at risk for anxiety and other mental health conditions, potentially guiding future prevention or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of latent cause inference is recognized in cognitive science, its direct application as a transdiagnostic biomarker for psychopathology is a novel and actively developing area of research.
Where this research is happening
Princeton, UNITED STATES
- Princeton University — Princeton, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Niv, Yael — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Niv, Yael
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 below.