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Direct Intracranial Electrophysiological Mapping of Insular Circuits for Anxiety in the Human Brain

Award Number: K23MH125018
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2025

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Direct Intracranial Electrophysiological Mapping of Insular Circuits for Anxiety in the Human Brain - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Anxiety is a common symptom across psychiatric disorders and is associated with worse quality of life and impairment. However, the existing treatments for anxiety remain limited despite its widespread prevalence. My career goal is to become an academic psychiatrist and neuroscientist focused on the neural circuits underlying various dimensions of anxiety in the human brain with the aim of developing targeted novel therapeutics. Previous studies suggest that the anterior insular cortex is a critical node within a larger corticolimbic `anxiety network,' which mediates various dimensions of anxiety. It is one of the most heavily implicated regions across all anxiety disorders and frequently observed in anxiety-related task studies. Despite the large body of evidence implicating the insular cortex across serious mental illness, the underlying role of insular circuits in anxiety remains unclear. Intracranial electrophysiological mapping with high density recordings offers a unique and promising method to study insular networks with high spatiotemporal resolution. To date, there are no studies that have investigated insular neurophysiology in the context of anxiety-related symptoms using iEEG. In our pilot studies, we found preliminary evidence that insular activity in distinct spectral bands correlates with dimensions of anxiety. We also found evidence that stimulation of the anterior insula can elicit an increase in self-reported anxiety associated with propagation of activity to downstream corticolimbic structures. This proposal builds upon these preliminary findings to validate our model that distinct spatiotemporally overlapping insular circuits mediate specific anxiety-related processes through coordinate oscillatory activity. Aim 1 utilizes a task-based approach to identify insular representations of anxiety-related symptoms and behaviors using intracranial recordings. Aim 2 tests the role of insular activity on anxiety-related symptoms and downstream corticolimbic networks using direct electrical stimulation. To address these research goals, I will need additional training in advance signal processing, affective neuroscience, and biostatistics. My rigorous training plan and expert mentoring team will provide me with the experience necessary to become a fully independent investigator able to bring advanced systems neuroscience approaches to basic mental health research.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $201,798 )
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94103	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	2/18/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$201,798
														Subtotal = $201,798

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $201,798 )
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	11/22/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$201,798
														Subtotal = $201,798

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $201,798 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	4/19/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$201,798
														Subtotal = $201,798

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $201,798 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	3/1/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$201,798
														Subtotal = $201,798

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $200,648 )
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, THE	1855 FOLSOM ST STE 425	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	12/14/2020	NEW	$200,648
														Subtotal = $200,648

Grand Total All Awards = $1,007,840

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Direct Intracranial Electrophysiological Mapping of Insular Circuits for Anxiety in the Human Brain

Award Number: K23MH125018

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2025

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