# Cognitive mechanisms of delusion severity throughout recovery from an acute psychotic episode: a computational approach

> **NIH NIH K23** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $163,530

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Delusions are psychotic symptoms that contribute to significant emotional distress, poorer quality of life, functional
impairment, hospitalization and violence. Delusions are treatment-resistant in many patients. Mechanistic understanding
of delusion severity remains elusive, limiting treatment advancement. Abnormal belief updating is a proposed mechanistic
framework of delusions with accumulating evidentiary support. Prior cross-sectional work has demonstrated altered
belief updating ability and associated neurobiological abnormalities in psychotic disorder patients during cognitive tasks.
However, it is unknown whether belief updating abnormalities are state-markers of delusional thinking that change over
time, or represent stable cognitive traits that contribute to delusion-proneness. Answering this question can not only
inform mechanistic models of delusions, but will guide targeted treatment development. This K23 mentored patient-
oriented career development award proposes a longitudinal examination of delusion severity and belief updating in
psychotic disorder patients recovering from an acute episode of psychosis. This project will use computational and
functional neuroimaging (fMRI) approaches to 1) determine how belief updating parameters change throughout six
months of recovery from an acute delusional state, and 2) characterize neurobiological correlates of belief updating
parameters as symptom severity changes. The applicant is a licensed clinical psychologist with a background in using
neuropsychological tasks and neuroimaging techniques to understand cognitive deficits across the psychosis spectrum.
Her long-term career goal is to build an independent research program that employs sophisticated cognitive neuroscience
techniques to test mechanistic models of psychosis, and then use that knowledge to develop and test novel interventions.
In order to accomplish these short and long-term goals, the applicant requires additional training, as outlined in this
proposal. Training areas include: 1) the computational and cognitive neuroscience of delusions, 2) longitudinal research
design and statistics, and 3) intervention research to prepare the applicant for a translational research career. Training will
include formal coursework, didactics, and on-site trainings, guided under a mentorship team of experts in the longitudinal
cognitive neuroimaging of psychotic disorders, computational modeling of psychotic symptoms, and treatment of
delusions. Mentored training and completion of the proposed project will provide the applicant the skills and experience
necessary to launch a successful independent research career.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10190701
- **Project number:** 1K23MH126313-01
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Julia May Sheffield
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $163,530
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-03-15 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10190701

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10190701, Cognitive mechanisms of delusion severity throughout recovery from an acute psychotic episode: a computational approach (1K23MH126313-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10190701. Licensed CC0.

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