Understanding how spontaneous brain activity affects perception and decision-making
Official title: Predictive Functions and Neural Mechanisms of Spontaneous Cortical Activity
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11085173 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our brain's natural activity, even when we're not doing anything, affects how we think and feel, especially for people dealing with conditions like schizophrenia, depression, and PTSD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $194,076 |
| NIH project number | 5K08MH131888-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085173 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, or PTSD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without psychiatric diagnoses or those with neurological conditions unrelated to the study may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the spontaneous activity of the mammalian cortex, which occurs even without external stimuli. It aims to uncover how these internal brain states influence our perceptions and decision-making processes, particularly in relation to psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, depression, and PTSD. By using advanced imaging techniques like resting state fMRI, the study seeks to establish connections between spontaneous cortical states and psychiatric diagnoses. The research will also explore the underlying neural mechanisms and circuits involved in these processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders by identifying how brain activity influences perception.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in linking spontaneous brain activity to perceptual decision-making, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mitra, Anish — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Mitra, Anish
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Multimodal AI to predict CAR-T patient response and guide safer, smarter cell design
A Stanford team is building AI tools that use patient and CAR-T cell data to predict how well a CAR-T therapy will work and what design changes might boost effectiveness and safety for people with cancer.
-
Community-driven model to reduce overdose deaths through smarter resource use
A Stanford-led project uses a data-driven model to help counties pick the best ways to prevent opioid and stimulant overdoses and save lives.
-
Center for Dissemination and Implementation at Stanford: Research Core
A Stanford-based program is advancing how evidence-based addiction treatments are implemented across settings to help people with substance use disorders receive better care.
-
Center for Dissemination and Implementation At Stanford (C-DIAS)
A center-based program at Stanford aims to speed people who need addiction treatments to get evidence-based care.
-
Mitochondrial structure and neuron health in Alzheimer's and ALS
This grant studies how mitochondrial cristae structure in neurons is controlled and how its disruption may contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS.
-
Pediatric EMS seizures: simpler age-based midazolam dosing
A nationwide trial at EMS agencies tests whether using fixed, age-based dosing of midazolam for seizures in children improves treatment speed and safety.
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.