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Diverse Cortical Layer 1 Circuits forAuditory Processing and Plasticity

Award Number: R01DC018353
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: 12/01/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2031

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Diverse Cortical Layer 1 Circuits forAuditory Processing and Plasticity - Summary. Sensory perception is dynamically modulated by behavioral state and learned associations. Primary auditory cortex (A1) is the hub of an elaborate network of neuromodulatory and top-down projections that powerfully filters and modifies sound signals relayed from the auditory thalamus. These inputs influence moment-to-moment cortical activity and drive long-lasting changes in synaptic connections that underlie auditory behavioral learning. How these diverse inputs converge onto specific neuronal types within auditory cortex to mediate sound perception and learning is still unknown. Our recent work and that of others implicates cortical layer 1 (L1), a sparse layer of inhibitory neurons located directly underneath the pial surface. Called the ‘crowning mystery’ of the cortex, L1 has been historically overlooked and still relatively little is known about the function of this cortical layer in sensory processing. We have found that L1 interneurons are sites of convergence for both tuned sensory and neuromodulatory inputs. In turn, L1 interneurons send projections to precise targets that powerfully control cortical network activity. Here we propose to leverage advanced techniques in two-photon holographic activation and calcium imaging in mouse auditory cortex to study how diverse sensory and behavioral inputs modulate the activity of specific L1 interneuron ensembles, how these L1 interneuron ensembles interact within complex L1 networks, and how these L1 networks influence the underlying cortical pyramidal neurons to control behavioral perception. Together, these studies will provide insight into how the diverse cortical layer 1 interneurons relay sound and neuromodulatory signals to influence sound processing and perception.


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 = $554,078 )
2026	2026	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	6	1/20/2026	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$554,078
														Subtotal = $554,078

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$5,560 )
2025	2024	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	3/31/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$5,560
														Subtotal = -$5,560

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $512,062 )
2024	2024	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	5	5/2/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$51,206
2024	2024	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	11/16/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$460,856
														Subtotal = $512,062

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $631,014 )
2023	2023	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	4	8/11/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$118,952
2023	2023	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY & PHYSICIAN STAFF, INC.	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	4	1/14/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$51,206
2023	2023	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY & PHYSICIAN STAFF, INC.	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	11/16/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$460,856
														Subtotal = $631,014

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $512,062 )
2022	2022	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY & PHYSICIAN STAFF, INC.	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	4/22/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$51,206
2022	2022	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY & PHYSICIAN STAFF, INC.	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	11/22/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$460,856
														Subtotal = $512,062

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $512,062 )
2021	2021	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY & PHYSICIAN STAFF, INC.	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	10/27/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$460,856
2021	2021	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY & PHYSICIAN STAFF, INC.	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	1/8/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$51,206
														Subtotal = $512,062

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $512,062 )
2020	2020	MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY & PHYSICIAN STAFF, INC.	243 CHARLES ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	11/20/2019	NEW	$512,062
														Subtotal = $512,062

Grand Total All Awards = $3,227,780

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Diverse Cortical Layer 1 Circuits forAuditory Processing and Plasticity

Award Number: R01DC018353

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: 12/01/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2031

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