Understanding how we interpret and remember ambiguous social situations
Official title: Neural mechanisms of interpretation shifting and memory formation in ambiguous social contexts
Funded at Dartmouth College · NIH-10998187 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with anxiety and depression understand and remember unclear social situations, using brain scans to see how their thoughts and memories work, with the hope of finding better ways to help them cope.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31MH138084-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10998187 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing anxiety or mood disorders, particularly those who struggle with interpreting ambiguous social cues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience anxiety or mood disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how people interpret ambiguous social information and how these interpretations are formed and remembered. By using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a new behavioral task that reflects real-life social ambiguities, the study aims to uncover the neural mechanisms involved in shifting interpretations and memory formation. The research focuses on understanding biases in interpretation and memory that are linked to anxiety and depression, with the goal of improving cognitive strategies for managing these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better therapeutic strategies for individuals suffering from anxiety and mood disorders by enhancing their ability to interpret social situations more accurately.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on cognitive biases in interpretation and memory, this approach combining fMRI with real-life social ambiguity is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth College
Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sava-Segal, Clara — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Sava-Segal, Clara
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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.