Understanding how motor skills become stable over time
Official title: Molecular mechanisms of motor skill stabilization
Funded at University of California Santa Cruz · NIH-10943832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young birds learn to sing and how their brains help them become better at it over time, which could help us understand and improve treatments for people with motor skill challenges like walking or talking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $461,401 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS138781-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10943832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit include individuals with developmental motor skill disorders or conditions affecting motor performance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with purely cognitive or non-motor-related conditions may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the molecular mechanisms that help stabilize motor skills, such as walking and talking, which are learned during early development. By studying the song of the Bengalese finch, a bird known for its complex vocalizations, researchers aim to uncover how neural circuits transition from variable to stable performance. The project utilizes advanced genomic techniques and single-cell molecular assays to analyze the changes in these circuits over time. Patients may benefit from insights gained about motor skill stabilization that could inform therapies for motor skill disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies for improving motor skill learning and stability in individuals with motor skill disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of this research is novel, similar studies in animal models have shown promise in understanding motor skill learning and stabilization.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colquitt, Bradley Mark — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Colquitt, Bradley Mark
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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.