Brain circuit causes of social touch sensitivity in Fragile X
Official title: Circuit Defects Underlying Deficits in Social Touch in Fragile X Syndrome
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11325052 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how problems in brain wiring lead to strong dislike or fear of social touch in people with Fragile X syndrome and related autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $435,645 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD054453-18 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325052 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Fragile X syndrome and autistic individuals who experience strong distress, avoidance, or anxiety around social touch would be most relevant to the goals of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals whose sensory challenges are unrelated to touch (for example, isolated auditory sensitivities) or whose condition has causes unrelated to Fragile X may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will use mouse models that carry the Fragile X mutation and a separate autism model to mimic social touch and observe behavior. They will apply a new test that reproduces repetitive social touch and record brain activity in regions linked to emotion and touch. By comparing responses and neural patterns between typical and Fragile X mice, they aim to map the circuit differences that drive touch avoidance and anxiety. The goal is to connect those circuit findings to the touch sensitivity people with Fragile X often experience and suggest biological targets for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific brain circuits that cause touch sensitivity and point to new treatment targets to reduce tactile defensiveness and social anxiety in Fragile X and some autistic people.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in Fragile X mouse models have shown tactile defensiveness and related behaviors, supporting this approach, though focused work on social touch circuits is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Portera-Cailliau, Carlos — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Portera-Cailliau, Carlos
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Fragile X Syndrome: How it progresses and affects daily life
A long-term study using existing Fragile X data to map how the condition changes over time in children and young adults, including how autism, race, and location influence outcomes.
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Sleep and mood links in Fragile X Syndrome
A short, patient-friendly study to understand how sleep problems relate to mood and depressive symptoms in people with Fragile X–linked autism.
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Connecting 3D genome misfolding to gene silencing in Fragile X syndrome
A study in people with Fragile X syndrome focuses on how 3D genome folding errors may turn off important genes, contributing to the condition’s features.
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Cortical circuit problems in Fragile X mice and people
Researchers are studying how brain circuits go awry in Fragile X syndrome by comparing mice and people to understand why certain brain rhythms and responses are altered.
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Brain biology in fragile X syndrome: how brain signals unfold and vary in patients
This grant supports research to understand brain signals and why symptoms vary in people with fragile X syndrome, aiming to translate findings into better care.
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Brain research on Fragile X Syndrome to improve therapies
A multi-year program studies brain function and differences in Fragile X Syndrome to help develop better treatments for people with FXS.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.