Friday, October 31, 2025 10/31/2025

Linking sensory uncertainty with motivation and memory

Award Number: F31MH125589
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/02/2023

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Linking sensory uncertainty with motivation and memory - Abstract: Processing information that reduces uncertainty is a key role of the brain. Emerging evidence shows that, in addition to using information that is given to them, animals actively seek to obtain information about future rewards or semantic (trivia) questions. Information demand (ID) is robust even when it is non-instrumental (cannot be exploited to increase reward gains). Moreover, non-instrumental ID activates the reward-sensitive dopaminergic midbrain and enhances memory, suggesting that uncertainty, independently of reward gains, is a source of motivation for decision making and cognitive function. However, little is known about the neural mechanisms mediating these effects of uncertainty. I will address this question by designing a new task that measures perceptual ID and allows me to examine how signals of sensory uncertainty relate to those of motivation and memory. I identified visual images – “texforms” – that reliably activate human ventral temporal cortex (VTC) and can be distorted in a controlled fashion to parametrically manipulate the uncertainty about animate/ inanimate stimulus categories. Second, I will use a generative model to decode trial-by-trial sensory uncertainty from stimulus-evoked multi-voxel activity in the VTC. Finally, I show preliminary evidence that perceptual ID (the desire to reveal the identity of an ambiguous image) is related to behavioral reports of confidence (a proxy of uncertainty). In Aim 1, I will examine the hypothesis that sensory uncertainty in VTC relates to midbrain activity either directly or mediated by univariate responses to confidence (such as those in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex). In Aim 2, I will examine the hypothesis that VTC uncertainty modulates the hippocampus and generates ID-related memory enhancements. Furthermore, I will explore the possibility that distinct network interactions mediate the effect of ID on immediate and delayed memory. Together, the findings will bring significant new insights into the pathways through which multivariate and univariate signals of uncertainty motivate actions that reduce uncertainty and affect memory. In addition, the results will expand our understanding of pathways that produce maladaptive effects of uncertainty in disorders of mood and anxiety.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$32,094 )
2024	2023	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	1/17/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$31,846
2024	2023	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	3	7/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1
2024	2022	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	7/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$247
														Subtotal = -$32,094

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $31,847 )
2023	2023	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	8/22/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,847
														Subtotal = $31,847

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $46,752 )
2022	2022	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	8/4/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$46,752
														Subtotal = $46,752

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $46,036 )
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	1	7/1/2021	NEW	$0
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	7/1/2021	NEW	$0
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	003	1	7/1/2021	NEW	$0
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	7/1/2021	NEW	$46,036
														Subtotal = $46,036

Grand Total All Awards = $92,541

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Linking sensory uncertainty with motivation and memory

Award Number: F31MH125589

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/02/2023

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