How different brain layers control sensory filtering in autism
Layer-specific manipulation to test feedforward/feedback cortical circuitry
This project uses precise brain recordings and targeted stimulation in monkeys to learn how brain rhythms that control sensory filtering relate to autistic symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11242030 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are probing how the brain decides which sensory inputs to pass on and which to suppress, a process often different in autism. They record activity from all layers of the cortex with high-density laminar electrodes and use a fast closed-loop system that times stimulation to the brain's own rhythms. The team will target deep versus superficial layers and deliver layer-specific drugs through electrode ports while animals perform sensory oddball tasks. The work tests whether deep alpha/beta rhythms silence superficial gamma/spiking that normally drives feedforward sensory signals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autistic disorder—especially those who experience sensory over-responsiveness or attention differences—would be the most relevant candidates for future related human studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms do not involve sensory filtering or who cannot undergo brain-based tests or interventions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could explain sensory hypersensitivity in autism and point to new treatments that target specific brain rhythms or cortical layers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior human and animal studies have linked alpha/beta and gamma rhythms to sensory processing, but this specific layer-targeted, closed-loop stimulation approach in monkeys is novel.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller, Earl K — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Miller, Earl K
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.