Understanding how the brain learns to control actions using human brain recordings
Official title: Investigating the neuronal mechanisms of control learning using human single unit recording
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11462154 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A high-quality study in people with ADHD looks at how brain regions coordinate to adapt our behavior to changing goals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $793,864 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH142640-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11462154 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with ADHD or related cognitive control challenges who may benefit from improved brain-based strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cognitive control difficulties or without access to invasive brain-recording contexts are unlikely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates how the frontal and temporal brain regions work together to adjust cognitive control through control learning, using rare recordings from human brains during tasks. Researchers will measure single-neuron activity, local field potentials, and intracranial EEG in key areas like the medial frontal cortex and hippocampus to see how theta oscillations help drive learning from internal feedback. The goal is to map how internal signals from the frontal area are used by the hippocampus and vmPFC to improve control over thoughts and actions, potentially shedding light on ADHD. Findings could inform new approaches to treating cognitive control difficulties in psychiatric conditions by targeting these neural pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could guide development of treatments that improve cognitive control in ADHD and related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that human frontal neurons can signal internal feedback important for learning, suggesting this approach could succeed.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fu, Zhongzheng — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Fu, Zhongzheng
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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.