Project 2. Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on cortico-thalamic function

The proposed studies will contribute to public health by identifying functional, structural, and molecular targets for treating cognitive deficits associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). These studies will determine the consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure on a key brain circuit that regulates working memory and decision-making, and will provide new avenues for treating individuals with FASD.

In Vivo High-Density Electrophysiological Recordings​

• Testing the hypothesis that corticothalamic dysfunction underlies working memory and cognitive flexibility deficits in FASD.​
• Targeting the cortico-thalamic circuit to understand neural activity.​
• Using advanced silicon electrode recordings to capture detailed brain function.​

Cognitive Task Performance​

• Implementing the Trial-Unique Delayed Nonmatching-to-Location task to assess visuospatial learning.​
• Using touchscreen interfaces to evaluate cognitive deficits.​

Relationship Between Biological Markers and Cognitive Function​

• Investigating the link between functional/behavioral alterations, white matter integrity, and circular RNA/neuroimmune status.​

Cross-Component Evaluation​

• Examining PAE impact on MD↔mPFC function during resting state and cognitive tasks.​
• Correlating findings with human subject studies in Component 3.​
• Directly assessing biological specimens in parallel with other preclinical components.​
• Collaborating with other projects for comprehensive analysis of blood biomarkers and myelin structure.​
• Leveraging the expertise of multiple PIs and NMARC’s collaborative framework for a deep mechanistic understanding of PAE.​