Project Grant R01NS148465

Northwestern University's Sponsored Research Division received a $564,007 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031. The award funds a five-year research project titled "Multi-Region Neural Dynamics of Internally Driven Timing Decisions, at Spiking Resolution," which aims to advance fundamental understanding of how distributed brain networks coordinate to support internal decision-making regarding action timing in the absence of external cues. The research employs spike-resolution neural recording across multiple brain regions, rapid neural activity perturbation techniques, and computational modeling approaches to characterize inter-regional interactions and mechanisms underlying timing-dependent decisions.

The project addresses a significant knowledge gap in neuroscience by combining novel behavioral paradigms with advanced methodologies to overcome historical experimental challenges in studying unpredictable decision timing. Preliminary findings suggest a revised decision model involving an urgency-like signal and sources of unpredictability distinct from prevailing theoretical frameworks, with demonstrated modular influence structures between frontal cortical regions and the striatum. This research contributes to NINDS's mission of reducing the burden of neurological disease through fundamental investigations into brain and nervous system function.