How stress affects fear learning in the brain
Official title: Mechanisms of enhanced synaptic drive in basolateral amygdala following stress
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10723781 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how stress affects the brain's ability to learn and remember fear, which could help us find better ways to treat anxiety disorders, especially for those who have gone through traumatic experiences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2023 |
| Project end | September 9, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $432,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21MH134158-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10723781 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced significant stress or trauma and may be suffering from anxiety disorders or PTSD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced trauma or stress-related disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how experiencing stress influences the brain's ability to learn and remember fear. It focuses on the basolateral amygdala, a brain region critical for processing emotions and fear responses. By examining changes in synaptic transmission following stress, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms that enhance fear learning. This could lead to better understanding and treatment options for anxiety disorders, particularly those related to traumatic experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for anxiety disorders and PTSD by targeting the underlying mechanisms of fear learning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the effects of stress on fear learning, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanselow, Michael S — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Fanselow, Michael S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
A study will look at how age-related blood cell mutations and large chromosomal changes might contribute to heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
-
Systems genetics of vascular smooth muscle phenotypes in heart disease
Aims to understand how genetic differences influence vascular smooth muscle cells to improve prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease.
-
Motivation for Alcohol Use in Humans and How It Can Be Measured
This grant explores how people are motivated to drink alcohol and tests a safe, controlled way to study that motivation to inform better treatments for alcohol use disorder.
-
Overcoming CAR T cell resistance with tumor-targeted IL-12 to boost anti-tumor immunity
Aims to make CAR T cell therapy work better for solid tumors by using tumor-focused IL-12 to boost the body’s attack on cancer.
-
PediCODE: A Biorepository and Consortium for CoDE - Congenital Diarrhea and Enteropathy
A nationwide effort to collect clinical data and patient-derived samples to uncover the genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy and to build a resource that helps researchers study these diseases.
-
Mentor Moms+: a community-led plan to cut alcohol use and HIV risk during pregnancy in South Africa
A community-based program adapts a trusted peer-led model to help pregnant and lactating people reduce alcohol use and HIV risk in South Africa.
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.