# Behavioral Core

> **NIH NIH U19** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $347,885

## Abstract

Project Summary: Behavioral Optogenetics Core
Optogenetic control of oxytocin release and mouse socio-spatial behavior is fundamental to this BRAIN Initative
proposal on “Oxytocin Modulation of Neural Circuit Function and Behavior”. Each Project requires optical
identification of oxytocin neurons, optical activation or suppression of the oxytocin system, or other transgene
expression for understanding the neural circuit basis of social behavior. A number of recent technical advances
across levels now enable a deeper understanding of neuromodulation for flexible information processing and
behavior in mice. Specficially, it is now possible to monitor and manipulate specific cell types (e.g., various
inhibitory interneurons or subcortical modulatory systems including oxytocin), taking advantage of transgenic
mouse lines combined with viral approaches for expressing opsins, fluorophores, pharmacogenetic constructs,
or gene knockdown with shRNA. These transgenic and viral approaches in mice can be combined with imaging
or intracellular recordings in behaving head-fixed mice, tetrode or photometry methods in freely-moving mice, or
in brain slices for deeper understanding of the cellular and synaptic mechanisms of modulation and plasticity.
Thus Aim 1 of this Behavioral Core is to breed and maintain valuable transgenic mouse lines, shared between
Project labs (generally for cell-type specific manipulation of local circuits, certain receptor-expressing cells, or
long-range modulatory projections). Aim 2 is to prepare these animals for Project team lab use via viral injection
(mostly of opsins, DREADDs, or fluorescent reporters such as GCaMP6). This will greatly accelerate the studies
performed by Project teams, as well as aid in troubleshooting and resource/reagent validation and replication
across labs. Aim 3 is to work with team lab members to perform behavioral experiments. This is facilitated by
incorporating this BRAIN Initiative Behavioral Optogenetics Core into the existing Rodent Behavior Core at NYU
School of Medicine, augmenting the capabilities of that core facility to enhance the scientific environment
throughout the institution.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9968469
- **Project number:** 5U19NS107616-03
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Adam Christopher Mar
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $347,885
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9968469

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9968469, Behavioral Core (5U19NS107616-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9968469. Licensed CC0.

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