Wednesday, December 31, 2025 12/31/2025

Exploring synaptic encoding of circuit-specific memory in behaving mice

Award Number: R01NS134842
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: 12/08/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2028

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Exploring synaptic encoding of circuit-specific memory in behaving mice - Project Summary Understanding how the brain stores and accesses information is one of the fundamental goals of neuroscience. This question has been addressed across many scales, spanning detailed genetic analyses of expression patterns of key molecules supporting neuronal communication to functional recordings of intact brains in behaving animals. Over the past 50 years, synaptic plasticity has emerged as a leading cellular pathway underlying learning and memory. During synaptic plasticity, dynamic regulation of AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) bidirectionally tunes synaptic strength, leading to long-lasting changes in the efficacy of chemical communication between neurons. Synaptic plasticity is active in nearly every region of the brain and plays a role in diverse processes, from innate fear behaviors to high-level cognition and memory. Despite the prevalence and importance of synaptic plasticity, we still lack basic knowledge regarding how information is distributed in synapses across the brain during learning and behavior, and even less regarding which specific synaptic changes are necessary for long-term memory, mainly due to technical difficulties arising from the immensely complex nature of synaptic networks. Here, we present a suite of novel methodologies that breaks through these barriers. Our approach leverages transgenic labeling of endogenous synaptic proteins and in vivo two-photon microscopy to enable visualization of synaptic plasticity in real time in behaving mice. Using deep network learning, we will develop algorithms to automatically detect and track how the strength of millions of individual synapses changes during learning. This will enable exploration of circuit-specific learning mechanisms within discrete cell types and specific presynaptic inputs. Ultimately, this pioneering approach has the potential to provide an unprecedented view of synapses in behaving animals, enabling new discoveries regarding how dynamic regulation of synaptic strength encodes learning and memory.


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 = $562,231 )
2026	2026	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	12/10/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$562,231
														Subtotal = $562,231

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $624,701 )
2025	2025	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	12/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$562,231
2025	2025	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	2	8/5/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$62,470
														Subtotal = $624,701

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $624,701 )
2024	2024	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	12/8/2023	NEW	$624,701
														Subtotal = $624,701

Grand Total All Awards = $1,811,633

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Exploring synaptic encoding of circuit-specific memory in behaving mice

Award Number: R01NS134842

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: 12/08/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2028

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