NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Understanding how sleep affects learning motor skills in marmosets

Official title: Parameterizing the relationship between motor cortical reactivation during sleep and motor skill acquisition in the freely behaving marmoset

Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-10658109 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study looks at how sleep helps marmosets learn new movements, focusing on how their brains work during sleep to see if it makes them better at these skills.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2026
Funding year2023
Award (this year)$2,085,071
NIH project number1RF1NS132033-01
Project IDNIH-10658109 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research would be individuals with motor skill learning challenges or those interested in the effects of sleep on cognitive functions.

Less likely to help

Patients with no interest in motor skills or sleep-related learning processes may not find this research beneficial.

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between sleep and the acquisition of motor skills in marmosets, a type of non-human primate. By observing how neural activity during non-REM sleep relates to motor skill learning, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind memory consolidation. Researchers will measure the frequency and quality of neural reactivations during sleep and their correlation with improvements in motor skills. This approach involves advanced algorithms to decode neural signals and predict movements based on daytime activities.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into how sleep influences learning and memory, potentially informing treatments for motor skill deficits in humans.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of sleep in memory consolidation, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Hatsopoulos, Nicholas G — University of Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Hatsopoulos, Nicholas G

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.