# Dynamics of Large-Scale Networks During Emotional and Social Processing

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2021 · $584,996

## Abstract

The goal of this application is to develop a research program that, as stated in the call entitled
The Neural Mechanisms of Multi-Dimensional Emotional and Social Representation (RFA-MH-
17-300), incorporates innovative approaches designed to move the fields of affective and social
neuroscience beyond single region-based, modular, and static models of brain function and
behavior. The RFA calls for research that is multi-dimensional, that is, that investigates the role
of (among others) complex contexts, as well as distributed and/or dynamic processes that
unfold over time. The objective of the present application is to jointly investigate emotional and
social processes in a richly multi-dimensional manner.
Aim 1: Network organization and evolution during emotional and social processing. The
objective of this aim is to uncover how large-scale brain networks are organized and evolve
temporally during emotional and social processing. Networks will include brain regions that
robustly respond to the tasks proposed, and regions from well characterized networks,
including the salience, executive control, and task-negative networks. Aim 2: Naturalistic
processing during emotional and social processing. The objective of this aim is to understand
naturalistic processing of emotional and social information. Although standard experimental
designs afford great control over experimental conditions, they lack ecological validity and
restrict the experiments that can be studied. We propose to investigate continuous
(“naturalistic”) processing during movie watching involving emotional and social content.
Continuous processing will be investigated via intersubject correlation analysis, which
measures the extent to which signals are correlated across participants. Aim 3: Development of
network organization/evolution and naturalistic processing. The objective of this aim is to
investigate multi-dimensional emotional and social processes from a developmental
perspective. Most developmental research in emotion has focused on observing amygdala
responses and those of a few other brain regions during face perception. We focus on a question
largely neglected in prior research, specifically sustained threat processing and the involvement
of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. In the context of social processing, this aim examines
the development of intersubject synchrony. Across the emotional and social domains, we
propose to study middle childhood (8-9 y), early adolescence (12-13 y), and young adulthood
(18-19 y).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10120523
- **Project number:** 5R01MH112517-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** LUIZ PESSOA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $584,996
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-16 → 2024-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10120523

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10120523, Dynamics of Large-Scale Networks During Emotional and Social Processing (5R01MH112517-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10120523. Licensed CC0.

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