# Characterizing Changes to Event-Related Potentials and Neural Oscillations in the Auditory Cortex Following Inactivation of Parvalbumin and Somatostatin Interneurons.

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE · 2023 · $42,302

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The proposed study will identify interneuron subtypes that regulate the auditory event-related potential (ERP)
and neural oscillatory activity in the auditory cortex. The ERP is widely-used to identify translationally relevant
biomarkers and to characterize sensory deficits implicated in autism spectrum disorders, aging and hearing
loss. However, the cortical circuit mechanisms that underlie the ERP are unknown. Functional deficits in
GABAergic interneurons, namely parvalbumin-positive (PV) and somatostatin-positive (SOM) neurons, have
been suggested in shaping ERP changes. PV and SOM neurons play a role in regulating the gain of
stimulus-related responses and synchrony of neural responses in the cortex. However, the impact of altered
PV and SOM neuron function on the ERP and neural oscillations in the auditory cortex remains poorly
understood. The proposed study will integrate electrophysiology and chemogenetic techniques in order to
directly manipulate the activity of PV and SOM neurons in the auditory cortex (AC) and characterize changes
to the ERP and to neural oscillations. We will inject an adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying Cre-dependent
designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) into the AC of PV-Cre and SOM-Cre
mice. Following recovery mice will receive systemic injections of the DREADD ligand clozaping-n-oxide or
vehicle and auditory cortical activity will be recorded as mice are awake and freely moving in a sound-insulated
arena where sound stimuli will be presented to them. We will record resting EEG and ERP and characterize
changes in gamma and beta frequencies in the resting EEG and changes in ERP amplitude and latency during
PV and SOM cell inactivation compared to control. The goal of this study is to generate novel insights into how
interneuron dysfunction leads to altered sensory responses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10554267
- **Project number:** 5F31DC019856-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
- **Principal Investigator:** Mawaheb Kassir
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $42,302
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10554267

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10554267, Characterizing Changes to Event-Related Potentials and Neural Oscillations in the Auditory Cortex Following Inactivation of Parvalbumin and Somatostatin Interneurons. (5F31DC019856-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10554267. Licensed CC0.

---

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