How the brain learns from practice through flexible brain circuits
Official title: Distributed Neural Activity Patterns Underlying Practice-Based Learning
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11419610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in mice looks at how the brain learns from trial and error by linking sensory cues to movements through different brain circuits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $220,914 |
| NIH project number | 5R00MH127471-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with autism or related learning differences who could benefit from future translational work based on these findings.
✕Less likely to help
This basic animal study does not involve people directly and may not immediately benefit healthy individuals.
What this research studies
This project explores how animals form new connections between sensory signals and actions as they learn from feedback. The researchers map which brain areas are involved in detecting the cue, controlling movement, rewarding correct actions, and recalling memories during learning. By assigning cognitive functions to distinct circuits, they aim to pinpoint the neural pathways that support practice-based learning. The work uses mouse models to reveal how plastic brain circuits support the connection between cues and actions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these brain circuits could inform better approaches to therapies for learning and autism-related difficulties.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked several brain areas to learning, but this project proposes a more precise mapping of circuits for cue-to-action learning.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reinhold, Kimberly — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Reinhold, Kimberly
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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.