Spatial circuits in the prefrontal cortex that control fear and discrimination
Official title: Spatially-organized prefrontal circuits regulating fear expression and discrimination
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11448740 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring how different parts of the prefrontal cortex help decide when to feel fear or not, with the goal of better understanding anxiety-related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $705,236 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH142649-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448740 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with anxiety or trauma-related disorders that involve exaggerated fear responses, who may benefit from future translation of these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those without fear-related disorders may not directly benefit from this basic science study.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the mouse prefrontal cortex communicates with brain regions like the amygdala and PAG to regulate fear responses. By using advanced imaging, the study aims to map where neurons respond to threats versus safe cues and how these signals influence behavior. The goal is to uncover how specific neural pathways differentiate fear to threats from non-threats, which could inform future treatments for anxiety and trauma-related disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to new approaches for reducing inappropriate fear responses in anxiety and trauma-related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies show spatial organization in fear circuits, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stujenske, Joseph Matthew — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Stujenske, Joseph Matthew
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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.