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Hippocampal-prefrontal mechanisms of learning to learn

Award Number: F31MH124395
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2022

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Hippocampal-prefrontal mechanisms of learning to learn - Project summary The mammalian brain is remarkably ecient at rapidly learning from experience. We can quickly form generalizations about our environment based on previously acquired knowledge, and we are able to establish and maintain detailed memories after just a single exposure to a stimulus. This rapid, experience-dependent learning is critically dependent on schemas, or learning sets, which are learned cognitive structures that organize knowledge and shape how incoming sensory information is interpreted. A related phenomenon is learning to learn, which is observed when experience with a task accelerates the learning of novel tasks or problems with a similar structure. Decades of experimental work have emphasized the essential role of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex|and their interactions|in associative learning and memory consolidation. However, the neural mechanisms underlying learning to learn remain largely unknown. Learning eciently from prior experience is crucial for successful everyday life, and this skill is impaired in patients with a number of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, attention de cit disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy, depression, and schizophrenia, which collectively a ect tens of millions of Americans. A deeper understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying learning to learn can provide important insights into the neurological basis of learning- related de cits in these patients, and can be used to develop e ective interventions targeted at memory loss and learning disruption. To investigate the neural mechanisms of learning to learn, we will record neuronal population activity in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex as animals acquire a learning set for a visual association task. In Aim 1, we will determine how neuronal activity patterns within hippocampus and prefrontal transform during learning set formation to support rapid learning. In Aim 2, we will characterize the changes in coordinated activity between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex that re ect learning set formation. We hypothesize that learning set acquisition is accompanied by a progressive emergence of stable, abstract neural representations of task-related information that can be re-used from problem to problem, thereby constraining the neural exploration space during learning and leading to faster learning through experience. In addition, we expect to observe a gradual shift from hippocampus-dependent to cortex-dependent representations throughout the process of learning to learn.


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: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$2,500 )
2024	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO	5801 S ELLIS AVE	CHICAGO	IL	60637	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	10/31/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$2,500
														Subtotal = -$2,500

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $46,695 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO	5801 S ELLIS AVE	CHICAGO	IL	60637	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	7/5/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$716
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE	5801 S ELLIS AVE	CHICAGO	IL	60637	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	12/20/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$45,979
														Subtotal = $46,695

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $43,479 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE	5801 S ELLIS AVE	CHICAGO	IL	60637	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	12/1/2020	NEW	$42,963
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE	5801 S ELLIS AVE	CHICAGO	IL	60637	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	12/1/2020	NEW	$0
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE	5801 S ELLIS AVE	CHICAGO	IL	60637	COOK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	1	4/7/2021	NEW	$516
														Subtotal = $43,479

Grand Total All Awards = $87,674

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Hippocampal-prefrontal mechanisms of learning to learn

Award Number: F31MH124395

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2022

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