Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Effects of light exposure on amygdala plasticity during adolescence: implications for anxiety and well-being

Award Number: R00AT010903
ORGANIZATION: CENTER FOR DRUG EVALUATION AND RESEARCH, NIH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 11/09/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Effects of light exposure on amygdala plasticity during adolescence: implications for anxiety and well-being - PROJECT SUMMARY Anxiety and risky behaviors are the most prevalent mental health concerns facing adolescents. The adolescent brain is characterized by a high degree of neural plasticity in which circuit-level formation is very responsive to environmental changes. There is increasing evidence that most psychiatric disorders have a developmental origin that is the result of early disturbances in this complex process. Adolescence is a period in which exposure to altered environmental lighting is decidedly common, as 50% of adolescents in the USA reported using computers, smartphones, and tablets before bedtime. This intensity of artificial light and the duration of exposure past sunset is unprecedented in human history. Despite the widespread exposure to night-time light in adolescents, our knowledge of the mechanisms by which our brain adapts to irregular environmental lighting is still incomplete. The medial amygdala (MeA) plays a key role in processing emotions and is also one of the regions, among others, that receives and processes light information. Thus, artificial changes in light exposure levels, timing, and regularity might generate confusing signals in this region, affecting neuroplasticity and emotional responses. To study whether light affects neuroplasticity in the MeA, thereby increasing vulnerability to anxiety and risk-decision making in adolescent mice, I developed a new aberrant light protocol designed to mimic human adolescent light exposure. This Pathway to Independence Award will provide the opportunity to build on my expertise in neurobiology and behavioral neuroscience while developing my abilities in fiber photometry and RNA-sequencing. Aim 1 is built upon our preliminary data showing that aberrant light exposure alters neurotransmitter plasticity in the MeA of adolescent mice, and that such neuroplasticity contributes to their vulnerability to anxiety and risky behaviors. Under the supervision of Dr. Barnes and Dr. Young, I will use the Iowa Gambling Task to test whether aberrant light exposure alters risk-taking behaviors differently in adolescent and adult mice. With additional mentorship from Dr. Ramanathan in the K99 phase, I will explore whether aberrant light affects neural activity in selected MeA neurons using fiber photometry-based calcium recording in behaving mice. In Aim 2, under the supervision of Dr. Preissl, I will investigate whether aberrant light exposure affects gene expression in MeA neurons and its target regions participating in anxiety and risky choice behaviors, such as the central amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. These experiments will prepare me for the R00 phase in which I will study the role of amygdala circuitry in light-mediated anxiety and risky behavior by combining pharmacological manipulation of amygdalar neurons, fiber photometry, and translational mouse models (Aim 3). Because the amygdala is a well-conserved structure, the proposed research will be translationally relevant for understanding the effect of altered environmental lighting during pubertal development and for the design of appropriate integrative interventions to promote emotional well-being in adolescents.


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 = -$37,237 )
2026	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	1600 HAMPTON ST	COLUMBIA	SC	29208	RICHLAND	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	000	5	3/26/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$37,237
														Subtotal = -$37,237

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	1600 HAMPTON ST	COLUMBIA	SC	29208	RICHLAND	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	000	5	6/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $243,896 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	1600 HAMPTON ST	COLUMBIA	SC	29208	RICHLAND	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	000	5	6/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$243,896
														Subtotal = $243,896

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $249,892 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	1600 HAMPTON ST # 414	COLUMBIA	SC	29208	RICHLAND	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	001	4	7/7/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$248,840
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	1600 HAMPTON ST # 414	COLUMBIA	SC	29208	RICHLAND	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	000	3	6/22/2023	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$1,052
														Subtotal = $249,892

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $248,919 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	1600 HAMPTON ST # 414	COLUMBIA	SC	29208	RICHLAND	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	000	3	9/15/2022	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$248,919
														Subtotal = $248,919

Grand Total All Awards = $705,470

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Effects of light exposure on amygdala plasticity during adolescence: implications for anxiety and well-being

Award Number: R00AT010903

ORGANIZATION: CENTER FOR DRUG EVALUATION AND RESEARCH, NIH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 11/09/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer