How our brains learn: how auditory cortex shapes itself during development
Official title: CRCNS: Learning fast and slow: Synaptic plasticity rules for cortical circuit development and tuning
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11538517 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists study how the brain’s hearing areas develop and adapt over time, using advanced imaging and experiments to map how learning changes brain connections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $190,688 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC024494-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11538517 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a history of auditory processing issues or cochlear implant users may benefit from future insights, though this grant focuses on basic mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
This project is primarily mechanistic and does not directly test a therapy in patients.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a rich dataset about how the auditory cortex rewires itself during development. Researchers will use animal models and human-relevant approaches to explore plasticity rules like spike-timing dependent plasticity and behavioral timescale plasticity. By comparing initial brain wiring with later functional organization, the study seeks to understand how experiences shape hearing and processing. The work combines neural data with computational models to link biology to learning behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of how the auditory system develops and adapts could inform better interventions for hearing loss and improve cochlear implant strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has begun to reveal plasticity rules, with ongoing questions about how development shapes final network function.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Froemke, Robert Crooks — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Froemke, Robert Crooks
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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.