Understanding how brain circuits adapt to maintain balance in learning and behavior
Official title: A Model for Homeostatic Plasticity in Striatum
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10753789 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how changes in brain connections affect learning and behavior, especially in a part of the brain that helps with movement and feeling rewarded, and it aims to understand how things like anxiety and addiction can make learning harder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $464,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS130841-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10753789 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 who experience anxiety or addiction-related disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with neurological conditions unrelated to anxiety or addiction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how changes in brain synapses affect learning and behavior, particularly focusing on the striatum, a key brain region involved in movement and reward. By studying animal models, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms that help stabilize brain activity during learning processes. The approach involves examining how synaptic plasticity, which allows synapses to strengthen or weaken, is influenced by conditions like anxiety and addiction. This could provide insights into how these conditions disrupt normal brain function and learning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for anxiety and addiction by restoring normal brain function and improving learning capabilities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding synaptic plasticity can lead to significant advancements in treating neurological disorders, indicating a promising avenue for this investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benson, Deanna L — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Benson, Deanna L
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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.