Understanding how the thalamus influences motor skill learning
Official title: Role of thalamic modulation in motor learning
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10910149 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a part of the brain called the thalamus helps us learn and improve our movements, especially by seeing how certain signals affect its activity, which could lead to better understanding of motor skills for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $122,931 |
| NIH project number | 5K99NS130078-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10910149 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with motor learning difficulties or movement disorders, such as those with dyskinesia syndromes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without motor learning challenges or those who do not have movement disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the thalamus in motor learning, focusing on how it integrates signals from key brain regions involved in movement control, such as the motor cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. The study aims to explore how adrenergic signaling affects thalamic activity and its implications for motor skill execution. By utilizing advanced imaging techniques, the research will provide insights into the thalamus's function beyond its traditional role as a relay station, potentially revealing new mechanisms that support motor learning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for improving motor skills in individuals with movement disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of the thalamus in motor learning is an emerging area of study, previous research has shown promising results in understanding the interactions between different brain regions involved in movement.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roth, Richard — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Roth, Richard
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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.