Thalamus and hippocampus help tame fear memories
Official title: Investigation of a thalamic-hippocampal pathway in contextual fear suppression and extinction
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11368505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team at the University of Chicago is studying how a brain pathway between the thalamus and hippocampus controls fear memories and their extinction, to help people with PTSD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $617,737 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH136274-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11368505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with PTSD or those at high risk for traumatic stress who could benefit from future translation of these findings into therapies.
✕Less likely to help
This basic science project does not directly involve patient participation at this stage and may not benefit individuals without trauma-related fear memories.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the thalamic NR region communicates with the hippocampus to influence whether fear memories are retrieved or suppressed. They will use animal models and advanced imaging techniques to observe neural activity during fear learning and extinction. The goal is to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to improve treatments for PTSD and reduce the burden of traumatic memories on patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new approaches for treating PTSD by helping fear memories fade more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that specific brain circuits influence fear extinction in animal models, suggesting potential for translational impact.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheffield, Mark E J — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Sheffield, Mark E J
Related research
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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.