The federal Project Grant award K01MH138822, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242), aims to investigate the thalamostriatal regulation of acetylcholine during reversal learning. The $182,993 award, with a project period from Sep 1, 2024 to Aug 31, 2028, will support research conducted by the Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH) doing business as the New York Psychiatric Center. The key products or services to be delivered under this grant include:
-
Using a combination of fiber photometry, computational modeling, optogenetics, and in vivo electrophysiology to test hypotheses related to the role of dorsomedial striatum acetylcholine release in reversal learning and value encoding by medium spiny neurons.
-
Determining if inhibition of thalamostriatal projections decreases acetylcholine release in the dorsomedial striatum and impairs reversal learning performance.
-
Providing the principal investigator, an early-career researcher, with technical training in advanced computational modeling and in vivo electrophysiology, as well as professional development in grant writing, leadership, and science communication.
The overarching goal is to advance understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive flexibility deficits observed in psychiatric disorders, which could inform the development of novel treatment approaches.
Generated 2/25/25, 3:31 AM