How daily rhythms affect brain circuits involved in memory
Official title: Regulation of diurnal rhythms in parvalbumin and perineuronal net function
Funded at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center · NIH-11352475 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A human-focused study looking at how daily biological clocks influence memory and brain circuits in adults.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $638,963 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS131645-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11352475 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are able to participate in cognitive testing and brain imaging studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to complete cognitive assessments or undergo imaging, or with conditions that confound circadian measurements may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project examines how daily timing signals interact with brain neurons that are important for memory retrieval, focusing on parvalbumin GABAergic neurons and the surrounding perineuronal nets in the medial prefrontal cortex. Researchers will study diurnal changes in these neural components and how they relate to memory performance across the day, using adult human participants with typical aging considerations. The study builds on animal findings by exploring whether similar diurnal patterns occur in people and how circadian timing could influence cognitive function and potentially mitigate cognitive deficits related to circadian misalignment. By understanding these rhythms, the work could inform strategies to optimize memory function for shift workers, older adults, and individuals with circadian-related cognitive challenges.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide timing-based interventions to improve memory performance and reduce cognitive risks associated with circadian disruption.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies show diurnal changes in PV neurons and PNNs; translating this to humans could be novel but builds on existing lines of inquiry.
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Pulsatility in the Retina and Blood Flow in Glaucoma
A project to study how pulsation and blood flow in the eye relate to glaucoma, using patient eyes and clinically available imaging tools.
-
Understanding how glaucoma affects daily life and quality of life
This project looks at how different patterns of vision loss from glaucoma influence everyday activities and overall well-being, and aims to translate that into practical guidance for patients and clinicians.
-
Improving nanoparticle delivery for gene editing in the retina
This project develops lipid nanoparticle delivery of temporary gene-editing tools to help people with inherited retinal dystrophies that cause vision loss.
-
Weakening cocaine-linked memories by changing brain 'nets' around key neurons
This project aims to weaken strong cocaine-related memories by altering protective nets around certain brain cells to help people with cocaine use disorder avoid relapse.
-
Cellular and structural changes in childhood nearsightedness
Researchers are linking tiny cell and nerve changes with eye imaging to better understand why children develop worsening nearsightedness.
-
How daily brain cycles affect memory and thinking
This research explores how our body's natural daily rhythms influence memory and thinking, focusing on specific brain cells and their surrounding structures.
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.