# Psychological and Socio-Environmental Determinants of Sleep and Neurocognitive Function (PEDS)

> **NIH NIH P20** · DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $172,734

## Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a complex set of neurodevelopmental disorders, affecting social 
reciprocity, communication and repetitive, stereotyped behaviors. Epidemiological associations link delivery 
by cesarean section (CS) with increased risk of ASD, however, observational studies in humans are unable 
to determine the potential for causality in this association. Therefore, we will use the socially monogamous 
prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). The prairie vole is one of the few animal models that allows us to 
examine the neurobiology underlying selective social attachments, which are important to human health and 
wellbeing. Our preliminary evidence suggests that prairie voles delivered via CS fail to form partner 
preferences as adults, which indicates some deficit in their selective social attachment. Previous work has 
indicated that CS delivery can affect stress reactivity, delay social skills, and reduce social self-esteem in 
infancy / childhood, but virtually no relevant studies have been conducted in humans to examine how CS 
might impact social behavior in later life. Therefore, we will investigate: how social behavior is affected by CS 
delivery throughout development in prairie voles, whether CS delivery affects functional and structural 
connectivity within the brain, and the contributions of oxytocin and/or hypoxia at birth to the relationship 
between CS delivery and subsequent neurodevelopment. We hypothesize that by disrupting oxytocin 
signaling at birth, CS delivery makes the developing brain more vulnerable to hypoxia, which in turn insults 
brain development in ways that predispose the newborn towards ASDs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10247845
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103653-09
- **Recipient organization:** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** William Kenkel
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $172,734
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10247845

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10247845, Psychological and Socio-Environmental Determinants of Sleep and Neurocognitive Function (PEDS) (5P20GM103653-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10247845. Licensed CC0.

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