How brain stimulation changes gene activity in the human brain
Deciphering the genomic mechanisms underlying the physiology of human brain stimulation
This research looks at how brief electrical stimulation during brain surgery changes gene activity in tissue removed from neurosurgery patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10984957 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have brain surgery and part of your brain tissue is removed, the team will briefly apply electrical stimulation before the tissue is taken and then study that tissue. They will use advanced single-nucleus RNA sequencing and single-nucleus ATAC sequencing to measure which genes and gene-control regions are turned on or off in specific brain cells after stimulation. The project runs three complementary experiments to connect molecular changes with brain circuit activity and memory-related signals the team has previously studied. The work is done at UT Southwestern by a team experienced in analyzing human cortical tissue and comparing stimulated versus unstimulated samples.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults scheduled for neurosurgical resections at UT Southwestern — for example temporal lobectomy patients — who are eligible for brief intraoperative cortical stimulation are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People not having brain tissue removed (for example only receiving noninvasive stimulation like TMS) or treated outside the enrolling surgical center would not be eligible and would not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal molecular targets and markers to help make brain stimulation therapies (for epilepsy, memory problems, or psychiatric conditions) more precise and effective.
How similar studies have performed: The team has published work linking gene expression to brain activity, but applying single-nucleus ATAC sequencing to human stimulated surgical tissue is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lega, Bradley C — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Lega, Bradley C
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 below.