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Examining the contributions of cognitive load and anterior cingulate cortex activity on striatal-hippocampal network coupling in age-related cognitive decline

Award Number: F31AG082445
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/08/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/15/2025

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Examining the contributions of cognitive load and anterior cingulate cortex activity on striatal-hippocampal network coupling in age-related cognitive decline - ABSTRACT To better diagnose and treat individuals at risk for age-related dementia and cognitive decline, it is important to understand the differences between normal and pathological changes to the brain and their different impacts on cognitive function. Furthermore, the presence of different cognitive trajectories across the normal spectrum of brain aging presents a particularly challenging problem for cognitive science and clinical treatment efficacy. The objective of this research proposal is to identify age-related changes to brain function across cognitive trajectories in different types of learning. Although it has been long documented that humans and other mammalian species exhibit behavioral shifts from ‘place/allocentric’ to ‘response-driven/body- centered’ spatial navigation strategies in advanced age, it is unclear whether these shifts extend to strategy use in other cognitive domains outside spatial learning. This response shift has been defined by shifting away from hippocampus (HPC)-dependent ‘cognitive mapping’ strategies, and toward caudate nucleus/dorsal striatum-dependent ‘stimulus-response’ strategies. Furthermore, the dorsomedial subregion of the dorsal striatum (DMS), has been implicated in behavioral flexibility and age-related changes to goal-directed behavior. These observations suggest overall age-related changes to network communication that reflect the relative expression of HPC- versus DMS-dominant solutions. This proposal will test the central hypothesis that age- related changes to learning strategy are a product of suboptimal, perseverative behavior that can manifest as cognitive impairment in older adults across different behavioral tasks, that this deficit is reflected by altered HPC-DMS network activity, and that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a critical role in these dynamics. To achieve the goals of this proposal we will first combine high density in vivo electrophysiology recorded from the HPC and DMS during associative and spatial learning in young and aged animals. This aim will determine whether aged impaired or unimpaired animals have differential coupling patterns between the HPC and DMS compared to young, and in what cognitive contexts these differences arise. Second, we will determine the contributions of the ACC on spatial learning in young and aged rodents combining neurophysiology, volumetric mapping of immediate-early gene expression, and circuit manipulation using virally transfected designer receptors. The findings of this proposal will begin to unravel a more complex view of memory-system interaction and age-related cognitive decline, which will have implications for therapeutic strategies in treating dementia and promoting cognitive health.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$21,127 )
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	000	2	1/9/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$21,127
														Subtotal = -$21,127

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $49,538 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	001	2	6/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$564
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	000	2	12/20/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$48,974
														Subtotal = $49,538

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $48,974 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	001	1	11/17/2023	NEW	$0
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	000	1	11/17/2023	NEW	$47,694
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	002	1	6/3/2024	NEW	$1,280
														Subtotal = $48,974

Grand Total All Awards = $77,385

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Examining the contributions of cognitive load and anterior cingulate cortex activity on striatal-hippocampal network coupling in age-related cognitive decline

Award Number: F31AG082445

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/08/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/15/2025

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