Understanding fear system wiring in PTSD and how brain myelin changes relate to symptoms
Official title: Investigating Fear System Myelination in PTSD Using In Vivo and Post Mortem Data
Funded at Northern California Institute/res/edu · NIH-11355390 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how changes in brain myelin in PTSD might drive abnormal fear processing and connectivity to help guide new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern California Institute/res/edu NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 23, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,310,852 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1MH132617-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11355390 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with PTSD or those at risk who may benefit from therapies targeting brain connectivity and myelination.
✕Less likely to help
People without PTSD or without brain connectivity issues related to fear networks are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses animal models and human brain data to explore whether maladaptive gray matter myelination in the fear network and the default mode network contributes to PTSD symptoms. It combines in vivo imaging data with post-mortem analyses to link brain structure with network function and clinical features. The goal is to identify how myelin changes affect connectivity between key regions like the amygdala, hippocampus, INS, and dACC, and how this relates to fear and stress responses. If successful, the findings could reveal new targets for therapies that modulate myelination or network dynamics. Patient-centered outcomes would focus on understanding brain changes associated with PTSD and informing future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to new treatment targets that improve brain connectivity and symptoms for people with PTSD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked brain connectivity changes to PTSD, and this project builds on that by examining myelination as a mechanism, with some prior evidence but still largely exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern California Institute/res/edu
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neylan, Thomas C — Northern California Institute/res/edu
- Study coordinator: Neylan, Thomas C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Ketamine to boost fear extinction and memory on PTSD patients
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-
Ketamine to boost memory reconsolidation and fear extinction in PTSD
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-
Understanding how the brain learns to avoid fear in PTSD patients
This study is looking at how the brain helps people with PTSD learn to avoid things that scare them and how this connects to overcoming their fears, using brain scans to compare those with PTSD and those who have experienced trauma but don’t have PTSD.
-
Understanding how fear is learned and remembered in PTSD
This study is looking at how people with PTSD learn to recognize and remember threats, so we can create better treatments that help them manage their fears in everyday life.
-
Cholinergic Brain Pathways in PTSD and Fear Extinction
We’re studying a brain chemical system (acetylcholine and a key receptor) to understand fear learning and PTSD better, with people who’ve experienced trauma.
-
Understanding how myelination affects the brain's response to fear in PTSD
This study is looking at how changes in the protective covering of nerve fibers in the brain might be linked to the symptoms of PTSD, and it aims to find new ways to help people with this condition by examining brain tissue and using advanced imaging techniques.
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.