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Investigation of Anterior Cingulate Cortex Contributions to Hippocampal Cognitive Control

Award Number: F32MH135680
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 11/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2026

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Investigation of Anterior Cingulate Cortex Contributions to Hippocampal Cognitive Control - Project Abstract Properly navigating our daily lives necessitates the judicious use of our limited cognitive resources to yield a desired outcome. This ability, known as cognitive control, has been demonstrated in humans to depend heavily on brain regions in the prefrontal cortex, including the anterior cingulate cortex, which is involved in effortful decision making and performance monitoring. The hippocampus has also been implicated in cognitive control function, particularly when the task depends on prior experience. Single-unit recordings of hippocampal neurons have revealed a coordinated cognitive control signal that predicts cognitive control behavior. The mechanism of cognitive control, and which brain regions contribute to it remains unclear, but the anterior cingulate is the most likely candidate. Aim 1 will explore prefrontal cognitive control representations by using in-vivo single photon calcium imaging to record populations of neurons within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) while rats perform an active place avoidance task. This is a navigation based cognitive control task that will enable us to determine if ACC also expresses a cognitive control signal, like in the signal in hippocampus. Whether or not a similar signal exists does not preclude its involvement in cognitive control. Therefore Aim 2 will selectively inactivate ACC using inhibitory chemogenetics (DREADDs) during the cognitive control task to test for necessity during various behavioral phases. We will also record population neuronal activity from hippocampus CA1 during the manipulations to evaluate the influence of cingulate inactivation on the hippocampal cognitive control signal. Results from this research will reveal how cognitive control is represented in ACC and how this activity influences hippocampal cognitive control, as well as provide a basis for interpreting how dysfunction that affects executive function (such as schizophrenia and frontotemporal dementia) impact the brain. This work furthers Goal 1 of the National Institute of Mental Health – defining the brain mechanisms underlying complex behaviors. Only by addressing how cognitive control is represented and coordinated across multiple diverse brain regions can we begin to construct a wholistic understanding of complex brain functions and mental illness.


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 = $78,040 )
2026	2026	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S FL 11	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	1/6/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$78,040
														Subtotal = $78,040

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $75,520 )
2025	2025	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	2	11/25/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2025	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	003	2	9/8/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,236
2025	2025	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	11/1/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$74,284
2025	2023	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	11/25/2024	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $75,520

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $69,080 )
2023	2023	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	9/8/2023	NEW	$69,080
2023	2023	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	9/8/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $69,080

Grand Total All Awards = $222,640

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Investigation of Anterior Cingulate Cortex Contributions to Hippocampal Cognitive Control

Award Number: F32MH135680

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 11/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2026

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