How the brain's fear circuits respond to real-world risks and trauma
Official title: Neural Dynamics of Fear Circuits in Ecological Rodent Models of Risk and Trauma
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11301893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use realistic rat predator-threat models to learn how brain fear pathways work, aiming to inform better care for people with anxiety and trauma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $556,975 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH139585-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll people, but its findings are most relevant to people with anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
People looking for immediate clinical treatments or trial enrollment will not directly benefit because the research is conducted in animals.
What this research studies
Scientists will use an 'approach food–avoid predator' setup in rats to recreate lifelike threat situations and risky decision making. They will record activity and manipulate circuits across the amygdala, midbrain (periaqueductal gray), hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex to track how threat signals flow. The work combines anatomical mapping, neurophysiology, and causal experiments to see how a single life-threatening event changes these circuits. Results are intended to improve understanding of anxiety and trauma-related brain changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal brain pathways to target for new treatments for anxiety, PTSD, and trauma-related risky behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Pavlovian fear-conditioning in rodents has long informed human anxiety research, but predator-based, naturalistic threat models are newer and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Jeansok John — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Kim, Jeansok John
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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.