How hippocampus circuits respond to stress
Neural activity and circuitry-mediated hippocampal stress responses
This project looks at how immature nerve cells and their connections in the hippocampus change during stress to better understand depression and how antidepressants work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176701 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's viewpoint, researchers are focusing on newborn neurons in a part of the hippocampus called the dentate gyrus because those cells influence mood, memory, and stress responses. Using well-established animal models of chronic stress, the team will change the electrical activity and synaptic connections of immature neurons without altering how many new neurons are produced, then measure stress-related behaviors. They will manipulate neuron excitability and record circuit activity to identify which connections drive anxiety- and depression-like outcomes. The goal is to connect specific circuit changes to behavioral effects and antidepressant action so future treatments can target those mechanisms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll people—experiments are conducted in animal models, so patients cannot join this research directly.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate relief from depression are unlikely to receive direct benefit because the work is preclinical and performed in animals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new brain-circuit targets or strategies to improve antidepressant effectiveness and guide development of novel treatments for depression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous preclinical studies, including the investigator's own work, have shown that changing activity of immature dentate gyrus neurons can alter stress-related behaviors and antidepressant responses, so the approach builds on promising animal data.
Where this research is happening
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tunc-Ozcan, Elif — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Tunc-Ozcan, Elif
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.