Understanding Brain Pathways for Fear in Anxiety Disorders
Official title: Investigation of a thalamic-hippocampal pathway in contextual fear suppression and extinction
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11196765 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how a specific brain pathway helps control and reduce fear memories, which could lead to new ways to help people with anxiety disorders like 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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $617,737 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH136274-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196765 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who experience anxiety disorders, particularly PTSD, may eventually benefit from the new treatment approaches that could arise from this fundamental brain research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct participation in a clinical trial will not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) makes life very difficult for many people, causing flashbacks, anxiety, and hyperarousal. Current treatments don't work for everyone, partly because we don't fully understand how traumatic memories are formed and how fear can be suppressed. This project focuses on a brain area called the Nucleus Reuniens (NR) in the thalamus, which appears to be important for reducing fear. By studying how the NR interacts with other brain regions, we hope to uncover the brain's natural ways of overcoming fear.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of fear suppression, paving the way for more effective treatments for PTSD and other anxiety disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has highlighted the Nucleus Reuniens' role in fear memory suppression, suggesting this project builds on a promising area of neuroscience.
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
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Inflammation and fear learning in PTSD
This study looks at how a temporary inflammatory challenge affects fear extinction in people with and without PTSD to better understand how PTSD could be treated.
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Sleep-based brain wiring of fear memory in the amygdala
A study in people or animals will look at how sleep helps the amygdala store fear memories by using advanced brain imaging and genetic tools to understand memory changes.
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Spatial circuits in the prefrontal cortex that control fear and discrimination
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.
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Understanding and improving fear and safety learning in OCD
A study at Yale will test brain-based methods to help adults with OCD improve safety learning and fear extinction during therapy.
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.