Project description
Linking mental navigation and rumination
Rumination is repetitive, negative thinking about personal problems. It often traps people in mental loops, worsening mood and well-being. Despite its impact, the brain mechanisms behind rumination remain unclear. In this context, the EU-funded MenNaRum project explores a new idea: mental rumination shares its roots with spatial navigation in the brain. Specifically, it tests whether the hippocampus, known for guiding physical navigation, also underlies how we ‘navigate’ thoughts and memories. Using innovative virtual reality tasks and data-driven analyses, MenNaRum seeks to link rumination with this mental navigation process. By combining neuroscience, experimental psychology, and technology, the project aims to develop new tools to better understand and eventually treat rumination and related mood disorders.
Objective
"MenNaRum aims to test the mental navigation framework (Aru et al., 2023) in the context of rumination. The theory proposes that the spatial navigation related activation in the hippocampus is indicative of a universal navigation mechanism that underlies spatial and non-spatial navigation, i.e. navigation between concepts or thoughts. The navigation process is goal directed and can lead to sudden solutions - insights. When ruminating, people think about their personal problems repetitively, often referred to as ""being stuck in a loop"", potentially indicative of the underlying navigational phenomenon. Rumination has been characterized by dwelling on negative autobiographical memories associated with hippocampal activation. So far, the link between rumination and navigational processing has not been established. MenNaRum aims to (1) establish a link between rumination and spatial navigation by applying a data-driven network analysis approach in an online study, (2) experimentally test the effects of insight induction on rumination, and navigation within a novel virtual-reality task, and (3) systematically review human and animal literature to uncover potential common rudimentary mechanisms for rumination and spatial navigation. In this project, I will integrate experimental psychopathology, behavioral neuroscience, and information technology approaches. MenNaRum will generate new hypotheses, and potentially shift rumination research paradigms towards integration, and interdisciplinarity. Implications include (1) a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of rumination, (2) novel VR-based measurement tools, some of which I will test in the project, and (3) inspiration for new interventions which can relieve the socioeconomic burden of affective disorders. MenNaRum will provide me with the important transferrable, virtual-reality, translational analysis and reviewing skills which will enhance my future interdisciplinary research on rumination and related processes."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-TALENTS-02
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
51005 Tartu
Estonia
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.