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The Role of Parafascicular Thalamic Circuits in Action Generation

Award Number: R01NS121253
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/15/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

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The Role of Parafascicular Thalamic Circuits in Action Generation - Project Summary The parafascicular nucleus is a major nucleus in the so-called intralaminar group. Although it is traditionally considered part of the reticular activating system and thought to play a role in arousal and attention, its contributions to behavior are still poorly understood. Much of the work on the Pf was done in primates before the development of modern intersectional strategies for selective cell type targeting and neural circuit dissection. This proposal aims to elucidate the computational functions of specific components of the Pf circuit, and to determine how this circuit can be used for the control of attention and action selection. Preliminary results indicate that the Pf plays a key role in rapid action generation, which appears to be mediated by direct excitatory inputs from the deep/intermediate layers of the superior colliculus. Two populations of Pf projection neurons target different downstream structures and have distinct behavioral functions. We hypothesize that Pf projections to the subthalamic nucleus are especially important for fast action initiation that bypasses the canonical basal ganglia circuitry, where as the well-known Pf projections to the striatum is not needed for action initiation, suggesting that the Pf-basal ganglia pathway has a distinct function. A highly integrative approach will be employed, combining 1) Motion capture for continuous behavioral quantification in 3D; 2) wireless in vivo recording from single neurons; 3) optogenetic manipulation of defined neuronal populations; 4) 1-photon calcium imaging of genetically defined individual neurons; and 5) quantitative operant behavioral assays. These tools will be used to determine how the Pf processes inputs from the midbrain and uses this information to guide action selection via distinct output projections to the STN and striatum.


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 = $401,022 )
2025	2025	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	5	5/7/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$401,022
														Subtotal = $401,022

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $389,043 )
2024	2024	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	4	5/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$389,043
														Subtotal = $389,043

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $401,129 )
2023	2023	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	5/3/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$401,129
														Subtotal = $401,129

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $401,180 )
2022	2022	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	4/14/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$401,180
														Subtotal = $401,180

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $401,227 )
2021	2021	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	5/5/2021	NEW	$401,227
														Subtotal = $401,227

Grand Total All Awards = $1,993,601

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The Role of Parafascicular Thalamic Circuits in Action Generation

Award Number: R01NS121253

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/15/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

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