Understanding how the brain creates new behaviors
Official title: Investigating Symbolic Computation in the Brain: Neural Mechanisms of Compositionality
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-10875523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how our brains help us come up with new and flexible actions, using a fun drawing task with monkeys to see how different parts of the brain work together to create these behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $134,271 |
| NIH project number | 5K99NS131585-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10875523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals with cognitive disorders or those interested in the mechanisms of learning and behavior.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with severe neurological impairments that prevent participation in cognitive tasks may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the neural mechanisms behind how animals, including humans, generate new and flexible behaviors. By using a unique drawing task with macaques, the study aims to uncover how the brain combines learned elements to create novel actions. The approach involves large-scale recordings from multiple areas of the frontal cortex to understand their roles in cognitive processes. This innovative methodology seeks to fill a gap in our understanding of compositional planning in the brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of cognitive disorders and lead to new therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of this research is novel, similar studies have shown promise in understanding cognitive functions through innovative behavioral tasks.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tian, Lucas Y. — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Tian, Lucas Y.
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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.