Understanding how trauma affects feelings and thinking through mindfulness techniques
Official title: Neurophysiological mechanisms of anhedonia and cognitive control deficits in trauma-exposed people completing vibroacoustically augmented breath focused mindfulness
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10844376 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how trauma affects feelings and thinking in people who struggle to feel pleasure, and it will explore whether a special breathing exercise combined with soothing vibrations can help improve their emotional responses and brain activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $73,828 |
| NIH project number | 5F32MH134631-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10844376 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals who have experienced trauma and are struggling with anhedonia or cognitive control deficits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced trauma or do not exhibit symptoms of anhedonia or cognitive control issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how trauma influences emotional responses and cognitive control, particularly focusing on individuals who experience anhedonia, a reduced ability to feel pleasure. By examining brain activity through techniques like electroencephalography (EEG), the study aims to understand the neurophysiological changes in trauma-exposed individuals. Participants will engage in a mindfulness intervention called vibroacoustically-augmented breath focused mindfulness (VABFM), which combines breathing exercises with vibrational stimuli to enhance attention and emotional processing. The goal is to identify how these brain dynamics change during the intervention and how they relate to individual symptom experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mindfulness-based treatments for individuals suffering from trauma-related mental health issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using mindfulness techniques to improve emotional and cognitive functioning in trauma-exposed populations, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdermott, Timothy — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Mcdermott, Timothy
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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.