Fear memory circuits in the amygdala: how fear responses are formed
Official title: Circuit operation underlying fear memory processes in the amygdala
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11343894 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how fear memories are created in the amygdala and what brain signals drive those memories in people who might experience traumatic fear.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $436,006 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH143989-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11343894 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly in this grant—focus is on basic brain mechanisms in model systems; potential future translation could benefit individuals with PTSD.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient participation is not described in this grant.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the amygdala processes fear-related signals and how neurons respond to frightening and learned cues. They are testing ideas about when and how fear memories are formed by recording brain activity with high temporal precision. The work uses animal models to understand the timing of inputs and outputs during fear learning, which could illuminate why fear memories become persistent. Findings could point to targets for therapies that reduce maladaptive fear in conditions like PTSD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of fear memory formation could lead to new strategies to prevent or reduce PTSD symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work supports the idea that amygdala circuits are central to fear learning, with ongoing studies refining the mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hajos, Norbert — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Hajos, Norbert
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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.