How pupil-linked arousal changes sensory signals in the brain
Noradrenergic and Cholinergic Mechanisms Underlying Pupil-linked Arousal Modulation of Thalamic Sensory Processing
This research looks at how changes in attention and arousal, tracked by pupil size, alter sensory signaling in the brain and relate to 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-11161559 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are exploring how natural fluctuations in attention and arousal — which show up as changes in pupil size — change the way the thalamus processes sensory information. The team will focus on two brain chemical systems, norepinephrine and acetylcholine, and how their receptors in the thalamus shape sensory signals and perception. Experiments will combine pupil tracking with targeted neural recordings and molecular tools to manipulate these systems, mainly using established laboratory models and circuit-level techniques. The goal is to link receptor-level mechanisms to the pupil patterns already seen in people with attention and arousal disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with attention or arousal-related conditions such as ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, depression, or sensory processing problems would be most likely to benefit from or be relevant to this line of research.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms come from purely peripheral sensory loss or non-neurological causes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from these brain-focused findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve how clinicians use pupil measurements to monitor brain arousal and point to new targets for treatments that help attention and perception.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human and animal work has connected pupil size to arousal and locus coeruleus activity, but the detailed role of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors in thalamic sensory processing remains less explored.
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.