Neural maps in the dentate gyrus and how we build spatial awareness in memory disorders
Official title: Neural circuits of cue and spatial representation in the dentate gyrus
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-11369796 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant studies how the brain creates a mental map to help people with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory problems navigate their surroundings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $480,303 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS142123-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369796 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia who experience navigation difficulties may benefit from future translations of this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without memory or spatial navigation difficulties may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
The project looks at how the dentate gyrus within the hippocampus combines cues from the environment with a person’s movement to form spatial representations. Researchers plan to study these brain signals in a way that could explain why navigation and memory decline in Alzheimer’s and related dementias. By using animal models and neural recording methods, the work aims to uncover how different hippocampal subregions contribute to forming a cognitive map. Insights from this work could point toward new approaches to preserve or improve memory-related navigation in patients. The long-term goal is to translate understanding of spatial processing into interventions that support daily functioning for people with dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of how memory and navigation are linked could lead to new strategies to maintain independence for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that hippocampal circuits influence spatial navigation, supporting the potential for translational insights in this area.
Where this research is happening
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New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lacefield, Clay Orion — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Lacefield, Clay Orion
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.