Understanding how different parts of the hippocampus help with memory and behavior
Official title: Functional differentiation of dorsal and ventral hippocampal place cell populations
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11037571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain cells in rats help them remember things differently depending on their feelings and motivations, which could give us a better understanding of how memories are formed and recalled.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | January 13, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $232,183 |
| NIH project number | 1R21MH138919-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11037571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research would include individuals with memory impairments or conditions affecting emotional and motivational aspects of memory.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without memory-related issues or those not affected by emotional or motivational dysfunction may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific neurons in the hippocampus, known as place cells, function differently in two regions: the dorsal and ventral areas. By studying rats, the researchers aim to understand how these cells encode and replay memories during various behaviors, particularly focusing on how emotional and motivational contexts influence memory processing. The approach involves observing the firing patterns of these neurons during active exploration and rest, which may reveal important insights into memory consolidation and retrieval. This research could help clarify the roles of different hippocampal regions in memory and behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of memory processes and potentially lead to new treatments for memory-related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While the investigation of place cell sequences in the dorsal hippocampus has been well-studied, the exploration of the ventral hippocampus in this context is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colgin, Laura L — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Colgin, Laura L
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.