# Understanding the effects of experimental brain injury to extinction of active avoidance

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES · 2020 · $412,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Our goal is to address an emerging challenge that we face with the effects of brain injury to neurological
function and mental health. A broad class of brain damage is diffuse injury (e.g. concussion) produced
experimentally using a closed head injury by weight drop onto the head. Concussion occurs with an impact to
the head plus angular acceleration which may result in axonal damage that disrupts communication and
activity between brain regions, likely affecting mental health by impairing emotional regulation. Two important
forms of emotional regulation are extinction and avoidance of rewarding stimuli. Extinction is the basis of
exposure treatment for fear and anxiety disorders. Avoidance of situations that trigger fear memories is a
hallmark of many mental health disorders. Patients with brain injury display excess avoidance, thus reducing
the attainment of rewards, which is detrimental to recovery. To evaluate the potential relationship between
brain injury and avoidance, a biological link must be examined using reliable injury models and behavioral
tests. There are homologous brain regions in rodents and humans for avoidance. Avoidance requires
interactions between the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, and ventral striatum. Overall, this work will
answer a series of key questions about the impact of brain injury to extinction and avoidance. Moreover, this
work will increase the base of scientific and public health evidence on this important subject.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10110697
- **Project number:** 1R21NS119991-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Demetrio Sierra
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $412,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10110697

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10110697, Understanding the effects of experimental brain injury to extinction of active avoidance (1R21NS119991-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10110697. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*