How coordinated brain rhythms link memory centers
Official title: Role of physiological patterns in hippocampal-prefrontal interactions
Funded at Brandeis University · NIH-11284008 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how rhythmic brain signals between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex support memory and learning, using rat experiments to inform ways to help people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brandeis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2017 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $404,159 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH112661-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11284008 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with Alzheimer's disease or other memory impairments who want to follow basic-research progress toward new therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment changes or those with conditions unrelated to hippocampal-prefrontal memory circuits are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this animal-based research.
What this research studies
Researchers will use rats to study how different brain activity patterns between the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex support memory-guided navigation and linking actions to rewards. They will record large populations of neurons during exploration, rest, and sleep, and use optogenetic methods to manipulate dopamine-related signals from the ventral tegmental area. The team will compare neural replay events and theta oscillations across regions and test how reward signals change those patterns. Findings are intended to reveal circuit mechanisms relevant to memory problems in Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify brain-circuit targets, such as hippocampal-prefrontal coordination or dopamine signals, that might guide new approaches to improve memory in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous rodent work has linked hippocampal-prefrontal coordination and replay to memory, but combining high-density ensemble recordings with targeted VTA optogenetic manipulation around reward-linked replay is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Brandeis University
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jadhav, Shantanu P — Brandeis University
- Study coordinator: Jadhav, Shantanu P
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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.