How brain circuits form and adapt during learning
Official title: Cortical assembly formation through excitatory/inhibitory circuit plasticity
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-10729689 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain learns to recognize different smells by exploring how certain brain cells work together, and it's designed for anyone interested in understanding how we remember and distinguish between different scents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $2,078,335 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1NS133598-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10729689 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals with cognitive impairments or disorders affecting learning and memory.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no cognitive impairments or those not experiencing learning or memory issues may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain's neural circuits, specifically in the olfactory cortex, form and adapt through the interplay of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. By examining how these circuits change during sensory learning, particularly in response to rewarded odors, the study aims to understand the mechanisms behind memory and discrimination. The researchers will use a combination of theoretical models and experimental approaches to test predictions about how different types of inhibitory neurons contribute to the stability and competition of neural assemblies. This could provide insights into the fundamental processes of learning and memory in the brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment of cognitive disorders related to learning and memory.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding neural circuit plasticity, but this specific approach focusing on the role of inhibition in assembly formation is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oswald, Anne-Marie Michelle — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Oswald, Anne-Marie Michelle
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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.