Project Grant RF1NS128896

This $1,761,170 project grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke will support research into feedback and feedforward gating of sensory signaling through timing in the thalamocortical loop. The grantee, Georgia Tech Research Corporation, will utilize optogenetic and electrophysiological techniques to precisely measure and manipulate elements of the thalamic-cortical circuit in the whisker somatosensory pathway of awake mice.

Specifically, the research aims to determine the effect of layer 6 corticothalamic feedback projections on sensory signaling in the thalamus and primary somatosensory cortex. Investigators will optogenetically manipulate layer 6 corticothalamic neurons while recording extracellular spiking activity across brain regions. The project also involves developing a closed-loop optogenetic control framework to force thalamic activity to baseline firing rates. Finally, mice will be trained on tactile perception tasks while monitoring population activity under optogenetic manipulation, to assess bi-directional corticothalamic control of sensory signal salience. Outcomes could provide significant insights into basic sensory pathway function and the dynamic gating role of feedback in navigating complex environments. The award is funded through the 21st Century Cures Act BRAIN Initiative, which supports neurotechnology research to advance understanding of the human brain.