Understanding how the brain processes social vocalizations.
Official title: Neural circuitry and population dynamics for perception of social vocalizations in the auditory pathway
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11032812 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how mice's brains understand sounds made by other mice, especially in situations like a mother responding to her babies, to learn more about how we all communicate and react to social sounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | February 12, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $160,089 |
| NIH project number | 5K99DC021581-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11032812 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation would be adults interested in the neurological basis of social communication and auditory processing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no interest in auditory processing or those who do not have conditions affecting social communication may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain interprets social vocalizations, which are crucial for survival and social interaction. By studying the auditory pathways in mice, the project aims to uncover the mechanisms that allow the brain to derive meaning from sounds and trigger appropriate behavioral responses. The approach involves advanced imaging techniques and recordings of brain activity to observe how different auditory cues affect behavior, particularly in the context of maternal responses to vocalizations. The findings could provide insights into the neural circuits involved in processing social sounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of auditory processing and its implications for social behavior, potentially informing treatments for communication disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding auditory processing and its impact on behavior, suggesting that this approach is grounded in established scientific inquiry.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lemessurier, Amy — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lemessurier, Amy
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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.