Understanding how the brain processes touch information from the hands
Official title: Area 3b hand cortex in primate: the targets and sources of extra-hand suppressive surrounds
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11000313 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how brain cells in the hand area react to touch and how they change when someone loses feeling in their hands, like after a spinal cord injury, using monkeys to learn more about how the brain can adapt and heal, which could help develop new treatments for people with hand function issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $332,084 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129982-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11000313 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced hand function impairment due to spinal cord injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with hand function impairments not related to spinal cord injuries may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how neurons in the hand area of the brain respond to touch and how this processing changes when sensory input is lost, such as after a spinal cord injury. By studying monkeys, the researchers will explore the organization of neurons and their connections, particularly focusing on how different layers of neurons interact and how sensory loss affects their function. The goal is to gain insights into the brain's ability to adapt and recover from injury, which could inform new therapies for individuals with hand function impairments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapeutic interventions for patients recovering from spinal cord injuries that affect hand function.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding sensory processing in the brain, but this specific approach to studying the hand cortex in relation to spinal cord injury is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaas, Jon H — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Kaas, Jon H
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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.