NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

How sleep affects learning and forgetting in the brain.

Official title: Role of coordinated multi-area reactivations during transitions between automatic and flexible behaviors.

Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10721280 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how sleep helps our brains learn and forget by watching brain activity in rats, which could help us understand how sleep affects our memory and behavior.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2026
Funding year2023
Award (this year)$2,965,125
NIH project number1RF1NS132913-01
Project IDNIH-10721280 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals with psychiatric disorders or those experiencing difficulties with memory and behavior regulation.

Less likely to help

Patients with acute medical conditions unrelated to mental health or memory issues may not receive benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the role of sleep in balancing learning and forgetting by examining neuronal activity during non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS). Using a rat model, the study will analyze how sleep influences the connections between different brain areas, particularly the cortex and striatum, and how this affects behavior. By employing advanced techniques like multi-site electrophysiology, the researchers aim to understand how these processes contribute to automatic versus flexible behaviors. The findings could provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of memory consolidation and behavioral regulation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatments for mental health disorders related to memory and behavior.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of sleep in memory processes, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California, San Francisco
    San Francisco, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Ganguly, Karunesh — University of California, San Francisco
  • Study coordinator: Ganguly, Karunesh

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.