# Temporal Specification of Basal Forebrain Circuitry

> **NIH NIH R37** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2024 · $799,249

## Abstract

Project Summary
The septal complex which regulates a wide range of social, and emotional behaviors can be classified into medial
(MS) and lateral (LS) regions. The medial septum is composed of cholinergic and GABAergic neurons that
primarily project to the hippocampus. The lateral septum is composed of a diverse array of GABAergic projection
neurons that receives reciprocal input from numerous brain regions known to regulate emotional and motivational
states. The lateral septal nuclei are strongly implicated in stress and anxiety where previous studies indicate a
role for the septum in both promoting and suppressing anxiety related behavior, including circuits involved in
mediating enduring behavioral changes resulting from early life stress and social trauma. Dysfunction of septal
neurons is thought to play a significant role in the pathophysiology of a variety of psychiatric disorders including
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety-related disorders. Despite our growing appreciation for
the importance of septal nuclei circuit function in modulating social, emotional and affective behaviors we know
very little about the specific functions of the diverse septal neuron types and even less about the developmental
mechanisms that create this diversity. The overall goal of this research proposal is to identify the key genetic
and molecular pathways that underlie the developmental logic for the functional specialization of diverse
neuronal cell types in the septum. Our studies will provide a framework for assessing the development and
behavioral function of other septal neuron types and uncover targets for novel treatments for neuropsychiatric
disorders that may arise from septal circuit dysfunction.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10904525
- **Project number:** 2R37MH119156-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** COREY C HARWELL
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $799,249
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2029-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10904525

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10904525, Temporal Specification of Basal Forebrain Circuitry (2R37MH119156-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10904525. Licensed CC0.

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