Award
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 5R01NS123711-05
Determinants of sparse activity in neocortex
Recipient
Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Award Amount
$504,962.00
Ceiling
$504,962.00
Awarded
February 02, 2026
Identifier
5R01NS123711-05
Research project funded by NINDS to study how inhibitory neurons regulate cortical activity during reinforcement learning, focusing on mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the neocortex.
Description
This project investigates how specific inhibitory neurons control cortical activity during reinforcement learning, aiming to uncover mechanisms of stimulus-reward coupling in neocortical circuits. The research focuses on the role of parvalbumin (PV) GABAergic neurons in regulating cortical activity and network rewiring, especially during early learning stages. Using sensory association paradigms with multiwhisker stimuli and water rewards, the study explores how reward-related acetylcholine release suppresses PV neuron firing, facilitating experience-dependent synaptic plasticity in the sensory cortex.