# Cortical Mechanisms Supporting Auditory Perceptual Learning

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2021 · $245,194

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Candidate: The candidate's long-term goal is to establish an independent research program focusing on the
neural mechanisms of long-term perceptual plasticity in the auditory system. Her previous training has
provided her with a strong foundation in auditory physiology, sensory plasticity, and behavioral neuroscience.
Here, she proposes to expand her skill set with additional training in awake-behaving physiology, adeno-
associated virus (AAV)-mediated, cell-type specific opsin expression, and wireless optogenetic manipulation of
neural activity in awake-behaving animals. During the K99 phase, she will prepare for the transition to
independence by attending workshops on chalk talks, teaching practices, job interviews, negotiation, and lab
management. By the end of the mentored phase, the candidate will have the academic and practical skills
needed to transition to establish her own laboratory. By the completion of the R00 period of this award, she
will have the publication record and preliminary data needed to generate a highly competitive R01 application.
Environment: K99 phase training will take place at New York University's (NYU) Center for Neural Science,
an outstanding environment for postdoctoral level training in systems-level neuroscience. Dr. Dan Sanes, the
primary mentor for this application, has an established auditory neuroscience research program that uses a
range of approaches, including in vitro slice physiology, in vivo awake-behaving physiology, calcium imaging,
psychophysics, and more recently, optogenetics. A collaboration with Dr. Gordon Fishell, located at NYU's
School of Medicine, has provided the Sanes Lab with AAV vectors, allowing for targeted, cell-type specific
opsin expression. Dr. Fishell has provided a letter of support, indicating his willingness to continue this
collaboration, both with Dr. Sanes during the K99 phase of this award, and with the candidate directly, once
she achieves independence. Additional mentoring will be provided by Dr. Daniel Polley (Harvard), and Dr.
Jonathan Fritz (University of Maryland), both leaders in the auditory neuroscience community.
Research: Long-term improvement in sound detection, a process known as perceptual learning, is critical to
language acquisition and musical training. Despite its importance, our understanding of the neural mechanisms
underlying perceptual learning remains limited. Furthermore, evidence suggests that top-down modulations of
cortical activity related to active listening are involved in perceptual learning, but it is unknown whether a
causal relationship exists between these processes. The proposed research will address these issues.
Wireless recordings will be made from the auditory cortex of animals as they are trained on a sound detection
task, revealing the temporal relationship between neural and behavioral improvement as animals learn (K99).
Similar recordings from frontal cortex (R00) will establish the dynamics of top-down a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10199742
- **Project number:** 5R00DC016046-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** Melissa Lynne Caras
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $245,194
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10199742

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10199742, Cortical Mechanisms Supporting Auditory Perceptual Learning (5R00DC016046-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10199742. Licensed CC0.

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