# Engineering neuroplasticity using volitional control of activity-dependent optogenetic stimulation in macaque sensorimotor cortex

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2022 · $54,294

## Abstract

Project summary
The brain shows marked plasticity across a variety of learning and memory tasks as well as during
recovery after injury. Many have proposed to leverage this innate plasticity using brain stimulation
to treat neural disorders. Implementing such treatments requires advanced engineering tools as
well as a solid understanding of how stimulation-induced plasticity drives changes in network
dynamics and connectivity at a large scale and across multiple brain areas. Here, we propose to
use our novel engineering tools to precisely manipulate neural activity in macaque sensorimotor
cortex to investigate and induce targeted cortical reorganization. I hypothesize that a closed-loop
optogenetic stimulation of somatosensory cortex based on the natural functional connectivity of
the sensorimotor system can drive cortical plasticity and induce functional recovery. The
functional connectivity maps of the somatosensory and motor cortical areas will be estimated as
a guide for targeted stimulation. In Aim 1 the effectiveness of activity-dependent stimulation
informed by the brain state and structure will be investigated to both strengthen the natural
existing connections and to induce new connections. In Aim 2 the same activity-dependent
stimulation as aim 1 will be evaluated to induce new connections in the presence of an ischemic
lesion. The results of these aims will be compared with the three stimulation paradigms proposed
in the parent R01 to evaluate the role of brain state and structure in stimulation-induced plasticity.
These aims are designed to provide us with both behavioral and electrophysiological measures
to assess the targeted cortical reorganization. The combination of these measures can shed light
on different aspects of brain plasticity and functional recovery mechanisms. The results of these
aims will be a proof of concept for the power of refined stimulation patterns for targeted
rehabilitation and rewiring of the brain that not only can be used for neurorehabilitation but also
can help understand the circuits and connectivity in these cortical areas.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10523649
- **Project number:** 3R01NS119395-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Azadeh Yazdan Shahmorad
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $54,294
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10523649

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10523649, Engineering neuroplasticity using volitional control of activity-dependent optogenetic stimulation in macaque sensorimotor cortex (3R01NS119395-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10523649. Licensed CC0.

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