Federal Grant Award Summary

Northwestern University received a $534,666 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), effective July 15, 2026, with completion scheduled for June 30, 2031. The grant supports fundamental neuroscience research investigating how the primary motor cortex (M1) directly influences muscle activity during naturalistic motor behaviors. The research applies innovative experimental techniques—including rapid silencing of M1 output combined with newly developed statistical frameworks—to measure M1's direct influence on individual muscles across diverse motor behaviors beyond laboratory settings. This research addresses a critical knowledge gap in understanding motor control mechanisms and challenges existing assumptions about M1's role in motor output generation.

The funded research will test two primary hypotheses through controlled experiments measuring the selective influence of the caudal forelimb area (mouse forelimb M1) on forelimb muscles during free-behaving movement paradigms. By extending prior findings from climbing behavior to broader motor behaviors, the project aims to develop mechanistic models of motor output generation and advance understanding of how the motor cortex directly steers movement. This work contributes to NINDS's mission of seeking fundamental knowledge about brain and nervous system structure and function to reduce the burden of neurological disease.