Understanding how we change our beliefs based on new information
Official title: CRCNS: Investigating the Neurocomputational Mechanisms of Belief Updating
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11176856 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people change their beliefs when they get new information, especially how our brains work during this process, and it aims to help us understand conditions like psychosis and depression better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $251,889 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH139351-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176856 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals experiencing neuropsychiatric conditions such as psychosis or depression, as well as healthy adults interested in understanding belief processes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable beliefs and no history of neuropsychiatric conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the processes by which humans update their beliefs in response to new information, focusing on the neural mechanisms involved. By using a computational framework, the study aims to connect belief updating with real-world behaviors and various neuroscience tasks. The researchers will explore how contextual factors influence our expectations and perceptions, which may help in understanding neuropsychiatric conditions like psychosis and depression. This approach seeks to provide a more comprehensive understanding of both normal and abnormal belief updating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions characterized by abnormal belief updating.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding belief updating mechanisms, but this approach aims to provide a novel and comprehensive framework.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nassar, Matthew — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Nassar, Matthew
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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.