Award
National Institute of General Medical Sciences 5P20GM144230-05
Investigating the acute role of corticotrophin releasing factor in visual cortical circuits and visual
Recipient
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
Award Amount
$243,046.00
Ceiling
$243,046.00
Awarded
April 06, 2026
Identifier
5P20GM144230-05
The award funds research on the role of corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) in visual cortical circuits, exploring how CRF-expressing interneurons affect visual processing under stress, with implications for neuropsychiatric conditions.
Description
This project investigates the role of stress signaling in visual cortical circuits, focusing on CRF-expressing interneurons and their impact on visual processing during stressful stimuli. The study aims to determine how V1CRF neurons are integrated into cortical circuits in primary visual cortex (V1), how they respond to affective and visual stimulation, and how their activity and CRF/CRFR1 signaling alter circuit function and visual processing. Techniques include whole-cell electrophysiology, multiplexed fluorescence confocal imaging, in vivo two-photon imaging, and in vivo fiber photometry to reveal the properties and responses of V1CRF neurons and their influence on visual processing during stress.