Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded the University of Utah a project grant totaling $402,802 under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242) to support a two-year research project spanning April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. The research aims to elucidate the causal role of the hippocampus in motor memory through the application of temporal interference stimulation (TIS), a novel noninvasive neural stimulation technique. The project will evaluate hippocampal responses during motor learning in young healthy adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), with the objective of reconciling conflicting findings regarding hippocampal involvement in procedural motor learning and establishing a mechanistic framework for how the hippocampus supports abstract representations of motor sequences.

This research addresses a significant gap in neuroscience literature by providing causal neuroimaging evidence to update current conceptualizations of memory system organization and inform the development of interventions targeting hippocampal-mediated motor learning and memory processes. The project represents the University of Utah's continuation of its extensive federal research portfolio managed through the Office of Sponsored Projects Division, leveraging institutional expertise in neuroscience research and advanced neuroimaging methodologies to support NIMH's mission of transforming understanding and treatment of mental health conditions.