# Integration of the thalamic and cortical inputs in the auditory striatum

> **NIH NIH R01** · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · 2021 · $323,698

## Abstract

The overarching goal of this supplement proposal is to determine the dysfunctions of
the auditory striatum in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the
most prevalent form of serious age-related dementia, which is produced by progressive death
of neurons in a wide range of brain regions. Symptoms of AD involve mental decline that affects
many core brain functions including memory, decision-making, and executive function. To
mechanistically understand the AD development, various AD mouse models expressing human
AD transgenes were developed. While most studies focusing on either the changes of molecular
and cellular activities or the cognitive deficits in behaviors, little is known at circuitry level how
the brain dysfunctions lead to AD symptoms.
 Difficulty in learning new tasks and making judgements based on sensory information
are common symptoms in AD patients. Previous studies including my own works indicated that
the auditory striatum plays an essential role in auditory decision-making and learning through
its connections with auditory thalamus and cortex. In this proposal, we will target the research
gap by determining the dysfunction of auditory striatal circuits in an AD mouse model, J20
transgenic mouse, using the approaches established for the parent grant. We will first use the
auditory frequency discrimination task (cloud-of-tones task) to examine the auditory decision-
making and learning deficits in the J20 mice (Aim 1, behavioral assessment), and then use
tetrode recordings to determine the changes of striatal sound representations in the J20 mice
(Aim 2, physiological assessment), finally we will use slice electrophysiological recording to
examine the thalamostriatal and corticostriatal synaptic activities in the J20 mice (Aim 3, circuit
mechanism assessment).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10285092
- **Project number:** 3R01DC017470-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- **Principal Investigator:** QIAOJIE XIONG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $323,698
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-02-10 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10285092

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10285092, Integration of the thalamic and cortical inputs in the auditory striatum (3R01DC017470-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10285092. Licensed CC0.

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