# Intracranial Neural Mechanisms of Fear Response in Humans with and without Anxiety-Related Disorders

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2023 · $39,552

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Accumulating evidence from rodent studies suggests that the expression of fear emerges from
electrophysiological changes within a neural network that includes the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC),
basolateral amygdala (BLA), and anterior hippocampus (aHPC)5. It is unclear whether this network exhibits
similar dynamics during fear-related states in humans and how this activity is altered during inappropriate
expression of fear that is often observed in individuals with anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The proposed study will investigate the
relationship between deep brain activity (intracranial electroencephalographic and single unit) and physiological
response (skin conductance response, pupil size, and heart rate/variability) in humans who are implanted with
microwire electrodes for clinical evaluation and treatment of epilepsy who will complete a virtual reality fear
conditioning task. Over the project period, the study will have access to 25 rare participants with and without
anxiety disorders (i.e. post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and/or generalized anxiety disorder [GAD])
implanted with depth electrodes in the vmPFC, BLA, and/or aHPC through an ongoing collaboration between
clinical and basic science leaders at UCLA and the Veteran’s Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare
System. Since our studies address basic questions surrounding the role of vmPFC-BLA-aHPC dynamics in
regulating fear response, a process often compromised in psychiatric disease, it is anticipated that findings will
bridge decades of human and animal fear-related research and lay the scientific foundation for improved
understanding and treatment of anxiety-related disorders.
In addition to completing the described research, I will undergo extensive professional and academic training to
prepare me for my ultimate-goal of becoming a neurosurgeon-scientist. This will include mentorship from basic
scientist experts in invasive human recording compatible experiments (Dr. Nanthia Suthana) and high level
statistical analysis (Dr. Jonathan Kao) in addition to clinical and investigative guidance from a neurosurgeon-
scientist (Dr. Jean Phillipe Langevin). Through working with these individuals along with my senior collaborators
(Drs. Michelle Craske and Michael Fanselow), I will learn to design clinically relevant behavioral experiments,
record invasive human neurophysiology, obtain expert knowledge in neuroscience and neuroanatomy, achieve
a highly developed skillset for signals processing and statistical analysis and hone my clinical, writing, and
presentation skills.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10596554
- **Project number:** 5F31MH127922-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Jay Lathen Gill II
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $39,552
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10596554

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10596554, Intracranial Neural Mechanisms of Fear Response in Humans with and without Anxiety-Related Disorders (5F31MH127922-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10596554. Licensed CC0.

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