How daily brain cycles affect memory and thinking
Official title: Regulation of diurnal rhythms in parvalbumin and perineuronal net function
Funded at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center · NIH-11124153 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how our body's natural daily rhythms influence memory and thinking, focusing on specific brain cells and their surrounding structures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $628,304 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS131645-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124153 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future studies stemming from this work might benefit individuals experiencing memory issues related to circadian rhythm disruptions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing memory issues or circadian rhythm disruptions would likely not see direct benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Our internal biological clock coordinates brain activity to manage daily behaviors, including how well we retrieve memories. This project focuses on special brain cells called Parvalbumin (PV) neurons, which are crucial for memory, and the protective structures around them known as perineuronal nets (PNNs). We believe that daily changes in these cells and structures in a part of the brain important for memory might explain why our memory performance varies throughout the day. Understanding these daily rhythms could help us learn why conditions like jet lag, shift work, aging, and certain brain disorders affect memory by disrupting these natural cycles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to help people with memory problems caused by disrupted daily rhythms, such as those experienced by shift workers or individuals with certain neurological conditions.
How similar studies have gone: While the general impact of daily rhythms on cognition is known, this specific approach to understanding the role of certain brain cells and structures in these rhythms is a new direction.
Where this research is happening
-
Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sorg, Barbara a — Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center
- Study coordinator: Sorg, Barbara a
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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.