Memory problems after brain injury from uncoordinated hippocampus signals
INJURY-INDUCED SPATIAL MEMORY IMPAIRMENTS ARE LINKED TO UNCOORDINATED HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONAL FIRING
This research looks at how concussions and other brain injuries can change hippocampus nerve activity and lead to memory problems in children and young adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11239002 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use laboratory models of concussion to examine how timing of nerve cell firing and rhythmic brain waves in the hippocampus are changed after injury. They will focus on specific inhibitory neurons in hippocampal regions (CA1 and dentate gyrus) and record how those cells and local field rhythms (theta and gamma) behave after injury. The team will link these cellular and rhythm changes to spatial memory problems seen after mild traumatic brain injury. Findings are intended to point toward targets for future treatments to help people with TBI-related memory trouble.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be children or young adults with a history of mild traumatic brain injury or concussion who experience new or ongoing memory difficulties.
Not a fit: People without hippocampus-related memory complaints, those with unrelated neurologic conditions, or anyone seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this mechanistic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific brain-cell changes to target with future therapies that reduce memory problems after concussion.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and some human studies have shown that hippocampal rhythm disruptions accompany memory problems after TBI, but this project digs deeper into which inhibitory neurons and timing relationships are responsible.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cohen, Akiva S — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Cohen, Akiva S
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.