How the brain's daily clock controls thinking and activity
Circadian regulation of neocortex
This project looks at how the brain's internal day–night clock in nerve cells and support cells affects daily activity and behavior, which could help people with Alzheimer's and sleep problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11241146 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use mice to watch how the brain's master clock and stress-hormone cycles set daily rhythms in the cortex. They will record gene activity and calcium signals in neurons and astrocytes using two-color, real-time imaging and manipulate gene expression in specific cell types. High-throughput recordings and machine-learning tools will be used to find patterns linking cellular rhythms to daily behaviors. The goal is to reveal how clock signals in cortical cells drive rest–activity cycles that can go wrong in conditions like Alzheimer's.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with Alzheimer's disease or others who have marked daily sleep–wake or activity rhythm problems would be most likely to benefit.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms are unrelated to daily activity or circadian regulation—such as those in acute stroke recovery or with conditions driven by purely structural damage—are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to improve sleep, daily activity patterns, and behavior in people with Alzheimer's by targeting brain clocks or hormone signals.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have linked brain clocks and hormone cycles to sleep and activity, but the combined two-color imaging of neurons and astrocytes with machine-learning analysis is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herzog, Erik — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Herzog, Erik
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.