Understanding how the brain represents emotions

Dynamic brain representations underlying emotional experience

NIH-funded research Dartmouth College · NIH-11159838

This study is exploring how our brains create and show emotions, especially when someone has trouble managing their feelings, and it's designed for people who want to understand more about their emotional experiences through watching movies and sharing personal stories.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDartmouth College NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Hanover, United States)
Project IDNIH-11159838 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how the brain generates and represents emotional states, particularly focusing on emotion dysregulation, which is central to various psychological disorders. By utilizing advanced techniques such as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and natural language processing, the study aims to develop brain models that capture emotional experiences in real-life contexts. Participants will engage with dynamic movies and personal stories to elicit emotional responses, allowing researchers to analyze brain activity and emotional expression in detail.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing emotional dysregulation or related psychological conditions.

Not a fit: Patients who do not experience emotional dysregulation or have stable emotional states may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment of emotional dysregulation in psychological disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in understanding emotional states through brain imaging and computational models, indicating a potential for success in this approach.

Where this research is happening

Hanover, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Brain Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.