# Encoding social arousal within prepronociceptin circuits in the extended amygdala

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $655,071

## Abstract

TITLE
Encoding social arousal within prepronociceptin circuits in the extended amygdala
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
As a social species, humans thrive on the ability to form social connections for individual well-being, survival,
and societal success. Physiological arousal responses regulate this process by encoding information from social
stimuli that guides subsequent behavioral actions. Dysregulation of the neural circuitry responsible for encoding
arousal responses is thought to contribute to disturbed motivated behavior, a characteristic in many
neuropsychiatric disorders. We can track the rapid changes in arousal responses by recording certain
physiological metrics such as pupil size, frequency of heartbeats, and respiratory cycles, however, little is known
about the neural circuits that regulate these rapid arousal responses and how they influence ongoing social
behavior. We recently found that neurons that express the prepronociceptin gene in the BNST (BNSTPnoc
neurons) encode the arousal responses that occur rapidly upon exposure to motivationally salient stimuli, such
as predator and food odors. Interestingly, BNSTPnoc neurons project predominantly to the medial amygdala (MeA)
and the medial preoptic area (mPOA), which are brain regions that regulate aspects of social motivation. Here,
we will study how BNSTPnoc neurons that project to either MeA or mPOA regulate social arousal responses and
modulate social behaviors. Our global hypothesis is that unique populations of BNSTPnoc neurons will selectively
encode arousal responses to social stimuli in a stimulus-dependent manner and independent of encoding
behavior. To accomplish this, we will precisely map afferent and efferent circuit connections of BNSTPnoc neurons
(Aim 1), test the hypothesis that BNSTPnoc neurons encode social arousal responses (Aim 2), and test the
hypothesis that neurons that encode arousal responses influence social behaviors (Aim 3). Identifying the
function and natural dynamics of BNSTPnoc neurons is important because we currently do not understand the role
of arousal in the generation of behavior and behavioral disorders, nor do we understand the circuitry underlying
the contributions of arousal on social behavior. This gap in knowledge prevents us from developing therapeutic
strategies that target this potentially critical biological substrate to treat disorders defined by maladaptive social
behaviors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10925357
- **Project number:** 5R01MH132073-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $655,071
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-08 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10925357

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10925357, Encoding social arousal within prepronociceptin circuits in the extended amygdala (5R01MH132073-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10925357. Licensed CC0.

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