Mapping cerebellum areas that control stress and 'fight-or-flight' responses in autism
Official title: Defining the Autonomic Cerebellum in Autism
Funded at Northeast Ohio Medical University · NIH-11169973 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to find brain targets in the cerebellum to help reduce overactive 'fight-or-flight' responses in autistic children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeast Ohio Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rootstown, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $390,000 |
| NIH project number | 5DP5OD036148-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169973 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with autism who experience frequent autonomic symptoms such as rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, breathing changes, or severe stress responses would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
People with autism who do not have autonomic dysregulation, or individuals whose symptoms come from purely peripheral (non-brain) causes, may not benefit.
What this research studies
If your child has autism with strong physical stress responses, this research looks for specific spots in the cerebellum that drive the adrenal 'fight-or-flight' system. The team will map those cerebellar regions and study how they influence adrenaline release and whole-body sympathetic reactions using laboratory models and autism-relevant comparisons. Results will be used to identify whether non-invasive brain stimulation like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be directed at precise cerebellar sites. The overall aim is to build a foundation for targeted therapies to ease dysautonomia symptoms in autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to precise, non-invasive brain stimulation targets that reduce disabling autonomic symptoms in autistic children.
How similar studies have gone: This is a relatively novel, translational approach: prior work links the cerebellum to autonomic control and early TMS research shows limited promise, but targeted treatments for dysautonomia in ASD remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Rootstown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seese, Ronald Robert — Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Study coordinator: Seese, Ronald Robert
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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.