# Cortical neuromodulatory mechanisms underlying adaptation and plasticity

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $584,312

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
During our previous studies, we established synaptic zinc as a powerful neuromodulator of synaptic
transmission, synaptic plasticity, and sound processing. Based on these findings and our preliminary results, we
propose that cortical synaptic zinc is a crucial neuromodulator for cortical adaptation and plasticity (recovery)
after noise trauma (peripheral damage). Namely, we plan to answer two main questions: 1) What are the cell-
type-specific zincergic neuromodulatory mechanisms underlying cortical adaptation to different background
sound statistics? And 2) How do cell-type-specific zincergic neuromodulatory mechanisms contribute to cortical
and perceptual recovery after peripheral damage? Answering these questions will advance the field to a new
level of understanding about cortical neuromodulatory mechanisms during normal and pathological sensory
processing, and create a new framework for approaching and interpreting cortical adaptation and plasticity.
Importantly, our proposed studies hold the potential to highlight novel strategies for enhancing hearing after
hearing loss, and for mitigating disorders that are associated with maladaptive central plasticity after peripheral
damage, such as hyperacusis and tinnitus

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10931690
- **Project number:** 5R01DC020923-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Thanos Tzounopoulos
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $584,312
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-18 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10931690

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10931690, Cortical neuromodulatory mechanisms underlying adaptation and plasticity (5R01DC020923-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10931690. Licensed CC0.

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