Understanding how tadpoles recognize their mothers using advanced imaging techniques
Official title: Multiphon imaging for understanding social brain function in tadpoles
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10717610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how baby poison frog tadpoles learn to recognize their mothers by smell, which could help us understand how bonding works in other animals, including humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $636,528 |
| NIH project number | 1R34NS132841-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10717610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are poison frog tadpoles, particularly those in the early stages of development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not poison frog tadpoles or those outside the amphibian category will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind mother-infant bonding by studying how poison frog tadpoles recognize their mothers through smell. Using multiphoton imaging, researchers will observe the development of olfactory responses in tadpoles as they learn to distinguish their mother's scent from that of strangers. The study aims to uncover how the brain processes these maternal cues and how this ability evolves during the tadpoles' growth. By focusing on a simpler model organism, the research seeks to provide insights that may be applicable to understanding similar processes in mammals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of social bonding and communication in animals, potentially informing approaches to improve maternal care and bonding in various species.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is novel in the context of amphibians, similar studies in mammals have shown success in understanding mother-infant bonding through olfactory cues.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'connell, Lauren a — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: O'connell, Lauren 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.