How frontal brain–thalamus connections develop to shape social behavior
Maturation of frontal cortico-thalamic circuitry in control of social behavior
Researchers are tracing how connections between the front of the brain and a deep thalamic area develop during childhood and adolescence to better understand social difficulties seen in autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309196 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project maps how medial prefrontal cortex connections to the paraventricular thalamus form and change across development using laboratory models. The team examines how early social isolation or autism-related gene changes disrupt those circuits and social behavior. They test whether there are specific developmental windows when interventions prevent later social problems and whether adult interventions can restore function. Techniques include circuit mapping, genetic models, behavioral testing, and targeted manipulation of brain pathways.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism spectrum disorder who experience social difficulties, and families interested in brain-based research on adolescent and adult sociability, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Individuals without social impairment or whose conditions arise from unrelated causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this animal-focused circuit research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to specific brain circuits and time windows to prevent or improve social difficulties in people with autism.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies, including the investigators' earlier work, have shown these prefrontal–thalamic circuits influence sociability, but translating interventions to people remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morishita, Hirofumi — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Morishita, Hirofumi
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.