Thalamus–to–cortex circuits that shape attention and sleep
Organization and Circuit Interactions of Thalamocortical Attentional Networks in Health and Disease
Researchers are mapping two types of thalamus-to-cortex circuits in adults to learn how they influence attention, sleep, and changes seen in schizophrenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11296903 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'll learn how two parallel thalamus-to-cortex pathways work in adult human brains and how they relate to attention, sleep, and emotion. The team will use human brain imaging and examine donated post-mortem brain tissue from adults with schizophrenia and from people without psychiatric illness. They will map where the more focused 'core' and the more diffuse 'matrix' thalamic pathways connect to different cortical layers and compare connection strength, density, and structure between groups. The work aims to link specific circuit differences to attention and sleep problems people experience in psychiatric conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults (21+) with schizophrenia, attention deficits, or sleep/vigilance problems, and healthy adult volunteers or donors of post-mortem brain tissue.
Not a fit: Children under 21, people with unrelated medical conditions, or those seeking immediate symptom relief are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic circuit-mapping work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new targets for treatments or diagnostics for attention and sleep problems in schizophrenia and related disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some human imaging work suggest these core and matrix circuits matter for attention and schizophrenia, but detailed mapping in human brains is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University (Charles River Campus) — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zikopoulos, Vasileios — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Zikopoulos, Vasileios
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.