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Temporal Coding and Palatability in Gustatory Cortex

Award Number: R01DC007703
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2006
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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View Award Description

Temporal Coding and Palatability in Gustatory Cortex - Project Summary/Abstract We like to think of taste as working relatively simply—a sweet taste is recognized as sweet by virtue of activating certain cells on the tongue, and that information is used to drive neurons that cause us to eat more of whatever food is in our mouths. The truth, however, is much more interesting: a taste hits the tongue, and complex circuits in the brain go into action, passing food-related information back and forth as the system as a whole decides whether the morsel is palatable enough to swallow. My lab studies this process by recording from multiple parts of the taste system while active rats are sampling various tastes. We have observed this decision-making process in action in taste cortex, where neural ensembles report, in turn, that a taste is on the tongue, that the taste is (say) sugar, and that it (the rat) currently likes the taste; this last step appears to be one arrived at suddenly, in a moment of insight—the food rolls around in the rat’s mouth for 0.5-1.5 seconds, and then the decision is made. This process clearly involves and requires cortex, but it is just as clear that cortex doesn’t work alone. Here, we will do rigorous tests of where that information in cortex comes from (specifically examining the roles played by amygdala and hypothalamus), in the process revealing novel systems-level mechanisms of taste processing. As a whole, this research project has the potential to completely change the way we think about taste, and to usher in new thinking about perception in general—thinking that makes a great deal more biological sense, given the complexity of brain circuitry.


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 = $428,801 )
2025	2025	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	20	5/7/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$25,732
2025	2025	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	20	5/1/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$454,533
2025	2024	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	19	5/7/2025	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
														Subtotal = $428,801

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $557,285 )
2024	2024	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	19	5/8/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$428,801
2024	2024	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	19	5/9/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$77,175
2024	2024	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	18	12/21/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$51,309
														Subtotal = $557,285

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $430,265 )
2023	2023	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	18	5/11/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$428,801
2023	2020	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	15	11/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,464
														Subtotal = $430,265

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $428,801 )
2022	2022	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	004	17	5/18/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$428,801
2022	2021	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	003	16	1/12/2022	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$168,320
2022	2020	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	15	1/12/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$168,320
2022	2020	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	15	12/10/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$168,320
2022	2020	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	15	12/7/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$168,320
														Subtotal = $428,801

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $428,801 )
2021	2021	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	16	6/14/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$428,801
2021	2020	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	15	6/4/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $428,801

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $309,188 )
2020	2020	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	15	3/18/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$309,188
														Subtotal = $309,188

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $309,188 )
2019	2019	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	14	3/5/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$309,188
														Subtotal = $309,188

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $310,781 )
2018	2018	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	13	3/29/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$279,702
2018	2018	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	13	4/6/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,079
														Subtotal = $310,781

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $310,781 )
2017	2017	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	12	5/24/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,079
2017	2017	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SOUTH ST	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	12	3/15/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$279,702
														Subtotal = $310,781

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $310,781 )
2016	2016	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02254		USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	11	2/5/2016	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$310,781
														Subtotal = $310,781

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $330,703 )
2015	2015	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02254		USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	10	3/18/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$330,703
														Subtotal = $330,703

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $331,842 )
2014	2014	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02254		USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	9	4/4/2014	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$299,948
2014	2014	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02254		USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	9	4/9/2014	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$31,894
														Subtotal = $331,842

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $284,951 )
2013	2013	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	8	5/15/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$14,997
2013	2013	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	8	3/29/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$269,954
														Subtotal = $284,951

Issue Date FY: 2012 ( Subtotal = $302,175 )
2012	2012	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	7	3/8/2012	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$302,175
														Subtotal = $302,175

Issue Date FY: 2011 ( Subtotal = $302,175 )
2011	2011	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	6	3/28/2011	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$302,175
														Subtotal = $302,175

Issue Date FY: 2010 ( Subtotal = $247,797 )
2010	2010	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	3/5/2010	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$247,797
														Subtotal = $247,797

Issue Date FY: 2009 ( Subtotal = $250,300 )
2009	2009	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02453	MIDDLESEX	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	3/13/2009	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$250,300
														Subtotal = $250,300

Issue Date FY: 2008 ( Subtotal = $247,252 )
2008	2008	BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY	415 SO ST, 119 BERNSTEIN-MARCU	WALTHAM	MA	02254		USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	2/15/2008	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$247,252
														Subtotal = $247,252

Grand Total All Awards = $6,622,900

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Temporal Coding and Palatability in Gustatory Cortex

Award Number: R01DC007703

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2006

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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