# Cerebellum and Mental Disorders

> **NIH NIH R01** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $539,565

## Abstract

Abstract
The cerebellum has been implicated in a number of mental health disorders such as autism spectrum
disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and addiction. However, how it contributes to these disorders is not
understood. In this proposal we explore whether the cerebellum sends direct excitatory projections to
the ventral tegmental area (VTA), one of the brain regions that processes and encodes reward, and to
the hypothalamus, a region implicated in social behavior. Using a combination of anatomical, functional
(electrophysiology combined with selective optogenetic activation of cerebellar pathways), and
behavioral studies we test the hypothesis that direct cerebellar projections to these two brain structures
may be the substrate through which the cerebellum influences social behavior under physiological and
pathological conditions. Defects in cerebellar modulation of the VTA and hypothalamus may explain, at
least in part, how the cerebellum might contribute to disorders such as ASD and schizophrenia. Thus,
accomplishment of the goals set would not only advance our understanding of the non-motor functions
of the cerebellum, but may provide clues regarding the pathophysiology of a number of mental
disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10130393
- **Project number:** 5R01MH115604-05
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Kamran Khodakhah
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $539,565
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10130393

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10130393, Cerebellum and Mental Disorders (5R01MH115604-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10130393. Licensed CC0.

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