Understanding how brain circuits process and store information about stimuli and their outcomes
Official title: Dissecting the circuits and population dynamics that represent unconditioned and conditioned stimuli in the ventral hippocampus
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11129474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain cells in a part of the hippocampus react to different experiences and how these reactions change as we learn, which could help us understand more about how our brains remember things, especially in relation to emotional and thinking challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $781,119 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH136270-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with affective or cognitive disorders who may benefit from improved understanding and treatment of their conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with neurological conditions unrelated to learning or memory processes may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific neurons in the ventral hippocampus respond to different stimuli and how these responses change with learning. By using advanced techniques like large-scale population recording and targeted manipulation of neuron types, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind how the brain encodes and updates information related to both conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. The findings could provide insights into the neural basis of learning and memory, particularly in relation to emotional and cognitive disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for cognitive and emotional disorders by enhancing our understanding of memory and learning processes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding neural circuits related to learning and memory, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kheirbek, Mazen a — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Kheirbek, Mazen a
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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.