Modifying the brain's 'time‑keeping' cells in the memory center (hippocampus)
Behavioral and pharmacological manipulation of time cell activity in the human mesial temporal lobe
Researchers will try changing activity of 'time cells' in the memory part of the brain to help people with memory loss such as from Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231651 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to do memory tasks while clinicians record activity from neurons in the mesial temporal lobe (hippocampus). The team will use behavioral tests and drugs to change how these 'time cells' fire and watch how that affects your ability to remember sequences. They will compare two ideas about how timing in the hippocampus supports serial memory to see which matches the recordings. Most recordings are done in people who already have intracranial electrodes (for example, epilepsy monitoring) so participation is usually in that context.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with memory problems related to Alzheimer's disease and patients already undergoing intracranial monitoring (such as for epilepsy) who can perform memory tasks.
Not a fit: People without memory problems or those who are not eligible for intracranial recordings (most people) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to treat the timing-related memory problems that appear in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Researchers have previously recorded 'time cells' in the human hippocampus, but using behavioral and drug manipulations to target them for Alzheimer's-related memory loss is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lega, Bradley C — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Lega, Bradley C
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.