Understanding how the brain makes decisions based on visual information
Official title: Neural Mechanisms of Categorical Decisions and Learning During Saccade-Based Visual Foraging
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11012297 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with Alzheimer's disease and attention deficit disorder learn to recognize pictures and make decisions based on them, using a fun task where they search for images linked to rewards.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $205,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EY035901-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11012297 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit disorder, or other brain-related conditions affecting visual learning.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cognitive impairments or those not experiencing difficulties with visual decision-making may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain learns to recognize and categorize visual stimuli, which is crucial for decision-making. It focuses on patients with conditions like Alzheimer's disease and attention deficit disorder, exploring how their ability to learn from visual cues is affected. Using a novel approach, the study employs a saccade-based foraging task where participants search for images associated with different rewards. This method allows researchers to observe the learning process in real-time, providing insights into the neural mechanisms involved.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for enhancing decision-making abilities in patients with cognitive impairments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding visual categorization, but this specific approach using rapid learning in a saccade-based task is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freedman, David J — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Freedman, David J
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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.