# Development of the Basal Telencephalic Limbic System

> **NIH NIH R01** · CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2020 · $589,217

## Abstract

The goal of the renewal proposal is to uncover how developmental programs establish brain
circuitry controlling critical social and non-social behaviors. Our previous findings studying
amygdala development have lead to a developmental transcription factor-centric model in which
we hypothesize that development, connectivity and innate behavioral specificity of limbic
subcircuits are differentially controlled by the embryonic expressed transcription factors, Dbx1
and Foxp2. We will test this model in three aims in which we will: 1) determine the limbic
connectivity patterns of Dbx1- and Foxp2-derived neurons (Specific Aim 1), 2) the cell
adhesion molecules regulated by Dbx1 and Foxp2 (Specific Aim 2) and 3) the function of Dbx1
and Foxp2 in the formation/maintenance of medial amygdala circuit function and social and non-
social innate behaviors (Specific Aim 3). Testing of this hypothesis will be accomplished using
a diverse and powerful combination of state of the art conditional mouse genetics, neuronal
circuit mapping and gene profiling approaches along with electrophysiology and innate behavior
tasks. By comprehensively integrating data from multiple levels of analyses, we will uncover
how developmental programs establish brain circuitry that controls motivational and innate
social and non-social behaviors. Moreover, as amygdala dysfunction is a prime feature of a
host of prevalent human social and emotional disorders, including drug-addictive behaviors and
autism spectrum disorders, this work is critical toward understanding how brain circuit
dysfunction leads to substance abuse and addictive behaviors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985765
- **Project number:** 5R01DA020140-16
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSHUA G CORBIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $589,217
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2006-03-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985765

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985765, Development of the Basal Telencephalic Limbic System (5R01DA020140-16). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985765. Licensed CC0.

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