How pupil-linked arousal changes sensory signaling through norepinephrine and acetylcholine
Noradrenergic and Cholinergic Mechanisms Underlying Pupil-linked Arousal Modulation of Thalamic Sensory Processing
This work looks at how natural changes in arousal, tracked by pupil size, change how the brain's thalamus handles sensory signals to better understand conditions like ADHD, Parkinson’s, and depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11377859 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have attention or arousal problems, this project follows pupil size as a non-invasive window into brain arousal and measures how two brain chemicals—norepinephrine and acetylcholine—alter sensory processing in the thalamus. The team uses modern neuroscience tools, including viral vectors and targeted receptor manipulations, together with neural recordings and behavioral tests in lab models. They link moment-to-moment pupil changes, thalamic neural responses, and simple perceptual behaviors to identify receptor-specific effects. The findings aim to explain atypical pupil dynamics and sensory processing seen in disorders such as ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, and depression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with attention or arousal-related conditions—such as ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, or depression—or those who show unusual pupil responses or sensory processing could be relevant candidates for related future studies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate treatment benefit or those with conditions unrelated to arousal or sensory processing are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this basic-mechanisms work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could point to adrenergic or cholinergic receptor mechanisms as targets for improving attention, perception, or arousal-related symptoms in several neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has shown pupil size reliably tracks arousal and correlates with cortical activity, but directly linking specific adrenergic and cholinergic receptor actions in the thalamus to perceptual changes is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia Univ New York Morningside — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Qi — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Wang, Qi
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.