# The Neural Basis of Active Sensory Gain Suppression in the Somatosensory System

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2022 · $235,130

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The candidate: Dr. Manuel Gomez-Ramirez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive
Sciences (BCS) at the University of Rochester, whose overarching goal is to establish cutting-edge research
program focused on studying neural circuits and spiking dynamics that mediate object sensing and manipulation
with the hands (i.e., haptics). Dr. Gomez-Ramirez completed his Ph.D. at the City College of the City University
of New York studying mechanisms of distracter suppression in humans. He transitioned to studying mechanisms
of tactile perception in non-human primates using multi-electrode single-unit recordings at the Johns Hopkins
University. He conducted a second post-doctoral fellowship at Brown University to learn calcium-based imaging
and optogenetic methods in mice. In his new lab, Dr. Gomez-Ramirez aims to incorporate techniques learned in
his post-doctoral fellowships to study haptics in a non-human primate model.
Research: In this award, Dr. Gomez-Ramirez will study how selective attention controls the sensory gain of
neocortical representations encoding distracter stimuli on the hand. He will use cutting-edge electrophysiological
and neuromodulation methods (i.e., optogenetics) to determine the neural circuit, and its dynamics, that mediate
sensory suppression of distracting tactile inputs. Aim 1 investigates the granularity of attention to modulate
sensory responses via targeting of cells’ receptive field (RF) inhibitory and/or excitatory sub-regions. Aim 2
investigates the precision and flexibility of attention to deploy distracter suppression across different somatotopic
representations in the somatosensory system. Aim 3 tests the role of layer 5 SST neurons in mediating sensory
gain suppression in supragranular layers, the mayor cortical layer of intra- and inter-area communication.
Training, Mentors, Collaborators, and Environment: The major research training goals of this award are to
gain expertise in (1) Cutting-edge population decoding methods (e.g., state-space analytical methods), and (2)
optogenetic stimulation in monkeys to study the how top-down signals regulate local somatosensory cortical
circuits representing relevant vs. irrelevant tactile information. This award will also provide key training in grant
and manuscript writing, personnel management, as well as engagement in extracurricular activities that will
enhance my career and professional development. The K01 scientific mentoring team comprises world-experts
in their respective field of research, and have been role models for mentoring and supporting junior faculty. The
Tenure Oversight team is composed additional senior faculty that will provide another layer of monitoring to
ensure progress in the activities proposed in the tenure plan.
Impact and Significance: Data gathered from studies in this award will inform an R01 application focused on
studying how top-down signals modulate cross-cortical somatosensory circuits mediating obj...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10440525
- **Project number:** 5K01NS114191-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Manuel Gomez-Ramirez
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $235,130
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10440525

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10440525, The Neural Basis of Active Sensory Gain Suppression in the Somatosensory System (5K01NS114191-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10440525. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*