# Tuning of infant olfactory circuits by early life interactions with caregivers

> **NIH NIH F32** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $63,970

## Abstract

Project Summary
The ability of an infant to distinguish caregivers from strangers is a fundamental behavior for survival early in
life. Across many taxa, infants use olfactory cues to recognize caregivers. Although the survival of neonates
depends on this behavior, we do not fully understand the neural mechanisms behind the olfactory encoding of
social identity. This is partly because there is a lack of robustly identifiable and ethologically relevant behaviors
in well-established animal models. Since all altricial animals rely on parental care for survival and children with
developmental disorders (e.g., fragile X syndrome and autism) often have altered olfactory perception, it is
essential to understand the mechanisms for linking caregiver odors with affiliative behavior.
This proposal seeks to illuminate the neural circuitry underlying olfactory recognition of caregivers in neonatal
vertebrate brains using in vivo imaging and molecular tools in social and translucent tadpoles, Ranitomeya
imitator. R. imitator tadpoles recognize their caregivers using olfactory cues and display a distinct begging
behavior to them, allowing us to decode parental recognition. The combination of in vivo brain imaging and
complex behavior in R. imitator makes them uniquely suited for decoding neural circuitry of the developing
vertebrate brain.
This proposal will test the hypothesis that exposure to social olfactory cues during development modifies the
catecholaminergic circuitry in the brain to encode caregiver identity and facilitate behavioral output to receive
care from caregivers. The applicant, Dr. Akbari, will use a combination of techniques in behavioral and
molecular neuroscience to identify the neurons responsible for caregiver recognition. To test the functional role
of distinct neuronal populations in enabling caregiver recognition, pharmacological manipulations will be
applied to each brain region. Dr. Akbari will identify cell types involved in social bond formation using single
nucleus RNA sequencing. Additionally, the combination of neural tracing and two-photon in vivo imaging will
allow the dissection of the circuitry underlying this vital social behavior.
This training plan will enhance Dr. Akbari’s background as an optical scientist by adding new experimental
techniques in neuroscience to her skill set to prepare for a career in research. Dr. Akbari will learn behavioral
and molecular neuroscience techniques from Dr. O’Connell and expand on her computational techniques to
analyze calcium activity data with guidance from Dr. Schnitzer. The unique combination of expertise of the
mentorship team, Drs. O’Connell and Schnitzer, as well as the fostering environment and excellent resources
of Stanford University, will prepare this candidate for leading an independent research program in experimental
neuroscience, focused on understanding how the developing vertebrate brain encodes social identity in healthy
and disease states.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10997129
- **Project number:** 1F32HD116519-01
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Najva Akbari
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $63,970
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2025-03-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10997129

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10997129, Tuning of infant olfactory circuits by early life interactions with caregivers (1F32HD116519-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-26 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/10997129. Licensed CC0.

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