This $774,632 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Mental Health (CFDA 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants) supports research to understand how changes in dopamine signaling in the brain impact cognitive and perceptual deficits associated with mental health disorders like schizophrenia. The principal investigator at Northwestern University will use in vivo imaging and chemogenetic techniques to investigate the neural activity of distinct neuron populations in the dorsal striatum of mice under normal and hyperdopaminergic conditions. This research aims to determine how dopamine-driven changes in the activity of D1 and D2 receptor-expressing spiny projection neurons contribute to working memory and auditory perception deficits. The findings are expected to inform the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for addressing the cognitive and perceptual symptoms of dopamine-associated neuropsychiatric diseases. The project will be conducted over a 5-year period from April 2025 to March 2030.
Generated 3/25/25, 4:30 AM