How the lateral entorhinal cortex sends signals that help memory
Understanding output circuits of the lateral entorhinal cortex
This project tests how signals from the lateral entorhinal cortex and serotonin inputs help form and recall associative memories for people with memory loss like Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304603 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, this research aims to understand how a memory-related brain region called the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) contributes to forming and retrieving associations, which are often affected in Alzheimer’s. Scientists will work mainly in mice that carry genetic labels, record brain activity during learning tasks, and use optogenetics to turn specific neurons on or off. They will focus on deep output layers of the LEC and on how serotonin inputs shape those neurons’ activity. All experiments are laboratory-based and do not directly treat or enroll patients, but the findings could guide future human studies and therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients now, but people with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment could be candidates for future trials informed by these findings.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or symptom relief would not benefit directly because the current work is basic laboratory research in animals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal specific LEC circuits and serotonin-related targets that guide future therapies to improve memory in Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies using optogenetics and electrophysiology have clarified other memory circuits, but the specific roles of LEC output layers and their serotonin inputs are largely novel and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Igarashi, Kei M — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Igarashi, Kei M
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.