# Cellular mechanisms of GABAergic inhibition in neocortical dendrites

> **NIH NIH R01** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $167,484

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The development of excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the neocortex is critical for
establishing normal patterns of brain activity, and dysregulation of this process may contribute
to a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. However, the
organization and regulation of inhibitory synaptogenesis during early development remain poorly
understood. This lack of knowledge is due, in part, to heterogeneity in GABAergic circuits and
the absence of appropriate tools for dissecting the contribution of different IN populations to
early GABAergic signaling. In the present study, we utilize a combination to electrophysiology,
optogenetics, 2-photon imaging and uncaging, and fluorescent labeling of GABAergic synapses
to (1) elaborate the development of functional inhibitory inputs to pyramidal neuron (PN)
dendrites, (2) reveal novel mechanisms for circuit-specific GABAergic plasticity, and (3)
elucidate the interactions of glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling in the normal wiring of
cortical circuits. Our overall goal is to understand the links between excitatory and inhibitory
signaling that operate during development and maintain cortical circuit function. We expect that
our results will generate new avenues for exploring both the cell biology of GABAergic function
and the general mechanisms by which the brain develops and adapts to experience.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10130867
- **Project number:** 3R01MH099045-08S1
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael James Higley
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $167,484
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2012-09-20 → 2021-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10130867

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10130867, Cellular mechanisms of GABAergic inhibition in neocortical dendrites (3R01MH099045-08S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10130867. Licensed CC0.

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