How forebrain circuits work and change
Dynamic properties of neural circuits in the forebrain
Researchers are studying mouse brain connections between motor and sensory areas to learn how those signals shape sensation and may relate to autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324923 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses mice to map and control long-range feedback connections from motor cortex to the sensory cortex to see how those inputs alter local processing. The team uses genetic Cre mouse lines and optogenetics to activate or silence specific pathways while recording cell, synapse, and circuit activity. Experiments examine cellular, synaptic, and network-level mechanisms in the mouse sensorimotor system. Although the work is done in animals, the researchers link these circuit findings to human conditions such as autism and other disorders of cortical communication.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: There is no patient enrollment; the results will be most relevant to people with autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing differences who might benefit from future treatments informed by this work.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatments or whose problems arise from non-cortical causes (for example, peripheral nerve disorders) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic animal research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to circuit-level targets or principles that guide development of future therapies for sensory and communication difficulties in autism.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies using optogenetics and circuit mapping have clarified brain wiring, but turning those insights into effective treatments for autism remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Michigan State University — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crandall, Shane R — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Crandall, Shane R
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.