Understanding how the cerebellum guides movement and learning
Official title: Synaptic Coding in the Cerebellar Corticonuclear Circuit
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11533175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Northwestern University looks at how brain signals in the cerebellum help coordinate movement and adapt to new motor tasks in mice and zebrafish.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $779,115 |
| NIH project number | 7R35NS116854-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11533175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with autistic disorder or motor coordination challenges where cerebellar dysfunction is suspected or could be a relevant area of investigation.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without motor coordination or autism-related concerns may gain less direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant explores the tiny brain circuits in the cerebellum that control movement. Researchers will study how synaptic input changes the firing patterns of premotor cerebellar neurons, both in lab dishes and in living animals during movement and learning. They plan to compare mouse and larval zebrafish biology to better understand conserved mechanisms of motor control. The work could reveal how disruptions in these signals relate to movement problems seen in autism and other conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could illuminate how motor learning and coordination are built in the brain and inform future therapies for movement or learning difficulties.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in cerebellar circuits have shown that Purkinje-CbN interactions influence motor output, supporting potential translational relevance for human movement disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raman, Indira M — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Raman, Indira M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how language and social communication work in FMR1-related autism risks
A small, patient-friendly study looks at why people with FMR1 gene changes may have pragmatic language difficulties, which are common in autism and related conditions.
-
Transformative patient navigation interventions for cancer care in diverse communities
A nationwide cancer center is testing new, community-driven ways to help people with cancer navigate care and information, especially where access is challenging.
-
Microbial Dysbiosis and Its Role in Pancreatic Cancer
A doctor-researcher team at Northwestern University is studying how gut bacteria influence pancreatic cancer and its response to immunotherapy to find new ways to help patients.
-
Point-of-care AQP4 antibody test to diagnose NMO in low-resource settings
A low-cost, mail-in dried-blood-spot test is being studied to diagnose neuromyelitis optica in people who live far from big labs or in low-income countries.
-
Supercomputer models to understand how human motor signals reach muscles
A computer-based effort uses human motoneuron models to figure out the exact mix of inputs that control muscle activity.
-
Negotiation training to help Alzheimer’s caregivers communicate with care teams
A program called NegotiAge helps families caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease learn better negotiation skills to talk with doctors, insurers, and other caregivers.
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.