Understanding how animals learn to navigate their environments
Official title: How do animals learn the structure of their natural environment?
Funded at Cornell University · NIH-10685715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how rats learn to find food and stay safe in tricky environments, focusing on how their brains help them recognize patterns and navigate their surroundings, which could teach us more about animal intelligence and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,476,000 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2MH136496-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10685715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation would be researchers or individuals interested in animal behavior and cognitive neuroscience.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no interest in animal behavior or those not involved in research may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how animals, particularly rats, learn to navigate complex and changing environments to find food, shelter, and avoid threats. It focuses on the neural mechanisms behind structure learning, which allows animals to recognize patterns and predict changes in their surroundings. By studying the activation of neurons in the hippocampus and related brain areas during foraging and social interactions, the research aims to uncover how these neural circuits form a relational map of the environment. This understanding could provide insights into the fundamental aspects of intelligence and behavior in animals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of learning and memory processes, potentially leading to new approaches in treating cognitive disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research has shown success in understanding neural mechanisms of learning in various animal models, indicating that this approach is promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fernandez-Ruiz, Antonio — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Fernandez-Ruiz, Antonio
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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.