# Selective dissection of local and distributed neocortical inhibitory circuits underlying sensory representation

> **NIH NIH F99** · CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $39,509

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The research proposed here is aimed at furthering our understanding of causal relationships between early
neural circuit formation and adult behavior, and specifically how healthy brain development can go awry to result
in deficits in sensory processing across a lifetime. Towards a deeper understanding of normal and aberrant
neurodevelopmental processes, there is a critical need to deconstruct the driving pathophysiological
mechanisms between developmental cortical hyperactivity and emergence of persistent maladaptive cognitive,
sensory and social behaviors. Without such information, the promise of novel targets for early intervention in
neurodevelopmental diseases will likely remain limited. During the F99 Phase, I will test if developmental
hyperexcitation of pyramidal neurons leads to persistent adult hypersensitivity (Aim IA) and deficits in fast-spiking
inhibitory neuron recruitment (Aim IB)—key neurophysiological and behavioral signatures seen in autism
spectrum disorders and neurodevelopmental syndromes. In Aim II, I will complement my neurophysiological
training in high density electrophysiological recordings and perform two-photon imaging of prefrontal cortex
projections into sensory areas to test how they influence encoding and circuit dynamics regulated by local
inhibitory neuron subtypes. This work will contribute to understanding the neurodevelopmental origins of
hypersensitivity and will help to broaden our understanding of disturbances in spontaneous activity beyond
genetic, immune and environmental factors by providing mechanistic insight into causal cell-type specific roles
of pyramidal neuron and inhibitory neuron subtypes. The training for the F99/K00 Phases will complement my
deep background in developing molecular technologies to dissect neocortical local and long-range projections
driving complex behavior. In my own lab I will readily develop next-generation molecular technologies for
dissecting neocortical computations across temporal and spatial scales with increasing biological complexity
(genes, proteins, cells, circuits) underlying sensory processing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10541697
- **Project number:** 1F99NS129170-01
- **Recipient organization:** CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Emmanuel Luis Crespo
- **Activity code:** F99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $39,509
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10541697

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10541697, Selective dissection of local and distributed neocortical inhibitory circuits underlying sensory representation (1F99NS129170-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10541697. Licensed CC0.

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