Priority Programme “Sensing LOOPS: Cortico-subcortical Interactions for Adaptive Sensing” (SPP 2411)
In spring 2022, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) established the Priority Programme (externer Link). The programme is designed to run for six years, covering a total of two funding periods. The present call invites proposals for the second three-year funding period.
The mammalian brain does not passively process sensory input but dynamically interprets it depending on context, internal state and experience. This form of adaptive sensing relies on recurrent interactions between cortical and subcortical structures. While anatomical evidence for cortico-subcortical loops has been known for decades, their functional role has only recently become experimentally accessible through advances in large-scale electrophysiology, imaging, genetic targeting and quantitative behavioural analysis.
Objectives and Scope of the Programme
The first funding period of SPP 2411 (LOOPS 1.0) established cortico-subcortical loops as a framework for studying adaptive sensing across mammalian species and sensory modalities. Research during LOOPS 1.0 demonstrated that sensory representations in cortical and subcortical circuits are dynamically shaped by behavioural context, internal state and experience. At the same time, LOOPS 1.0 identified several open questions, particularly regarding the mechanisms of plasticity in cortico-subcortical circuits, the role of these loops under naturalistic conditions, and the extent to which common circuit principles generalise across sensory systems.
The second funding period (LOOPS 2.0) will build on the results and questions gathered during the first funding phase and refine the focus of the programme accordingly. While the original thematic areas (context-dependency, prediction, attention and learning) will be maintained, LOOPS 2.0 will place stronger emphasis on the following aspects:
Plasticity and circuit dynamics across timescales:
Projects are encouraged to investigate cortico-subcortical plasticity across multiple temporal scales, ranging from rapid modulation of neuronal responses occurring within milliseconds (for example forward masking, gain modulation or stimulus-specific adaptation) to slower forms of plasticity that emerge across hours or days, such as changes in topographic maps or learning-related reorganisation of circuit function. Particular emphasis should be placed on understanding how fast and slow forms of plasticity interact within the same circuits.Naturalistic and behaviourally relevant processing:
LOOPS 2.0 will place stronger emphasis on studying cortico-subcortical circuits in the context of behaviours that are relevant for the ecology of the species under investigation. Projects should therefore include a clear statement explaining how the studied behaviour or task relates to the natural repertoire and ecological demands of the respective animal. Approaches investigating natural behaviours under natural or naturalistic conditions are particularly encouraged, although it is understood that not all recording and manipulation techniques can be implemented in such settings. Alternatively, projects may explain how classical laboratory paradigms were modified or adapted to better capture the natural behavioural strategies of the studied species.Direct comparisons across sensory systems:
Finally, LOOPS 2.0 encourages projects aiming at direct comparisons of cortico-subcortical circuit properties across sensory modalities. These comparisons may be performed within a single project or through coordinated tandem projects involving different groups. Importantly, projects aiming at such comparisons should explicitly describe how experimental procedures, behavioural paradigms, recording approaches and analytical pipelines will be standardised in order to generate directly comparable results across sensory modalities.
Project proposals which fulfil at least one of these three aspects will be prioritised.
Requirements
Applying projects must:
study or model the function of mammalian corticofugal connections with the goal of characterising the impact of such input on subcortical sensory structures.
measure or model neuronal activity on a microcircuit level in awake mammals.
study or model the dynamics of cortico-subcortical loops according to one or more of the three themes suggested above (plasticity, natural/naturalistic sensory processing, cross-sensory systems comparisons), with particular emphasis on circuit dynamics. Projects that investigate the function of cortico-subcortical loops during multisensory processing are also welcome.
simultaneously probe or model activity in two or more interacting cortico-subcortical structures, where at least one is a sensory structure.
study or model circuit function through behavioural or neural activity manipulations, preferably under behaviourally relevant or natural/naturalistic conditions.
have a clear plan for sharing data, analysis software and models.
We additionally encourage proposals for projects that foster direct interaction between experimental research performed in different sensory systems and projects that promote close integration of experimental and theoretical/computational approaches.
We don’t take proposals for projects into account that:
are not focused on cortico-subcortical interactions in sensory systems.
aim at anatomical characterisation without functional measurements of brain activity.
probe activity only from a single structure without sampling/manipulating a second brain area.
focus on disease mechanisms or knock-out animals.
focus on cortico-subcortical circuits outside sensory/perceptual processing.
investigate behaviours or tasks that have little or no relevance for the natural behavioural repertoire or ecological demands of the studied species.
have a purely theoretical focus without direct links to experimental data.
work on non-mammalian model systems.
Proposal Submission
Please submit your proposal to the DFG by 3 February 2027. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the (externer Link) in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted.
When preparing your proposal, please refer to the template (interner Link).
If this is the first time you are submitting a proposal to the DFG, please note that you must register in the elan portal before you can submit your proposal. You must do so by 27 January 2027. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.
Important: An online roundtable to clarify the aims and objectives of LOOPS 2.0 will take place over Webex on 13 October 2026 at 11 am. To obtain the link for the meeting, please contact the programme speaker (externer Link).
Equity and Diversity
The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.
Good Research Practice
According to a resolution of the DFG General Assembly, DFG funding may only be awarded to research institutions that have implemented the guidelines laid down in the (externer Link) in their own regulations. The management of your institution is responsible for implementing the guidelines in a legally binding manner. In order to avoid delays in the disbursement of funding, please verify implementation within your institution in good time. For information regarding the implementation, please refer to the (externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the (externer Link) at the DFG Head Office.
Further Information
Please find detailed information on the vision of the SPP and details on the selection process at: (externer Link)
When submitting proposals, please use the (externer Link) and refer to the respective guidelines (interner Link) and (interner Link). The (interner Link) may also be helpful.
Contact Persons at the DFG Head Office
Programme contact:
(externer Link), Life Sciences 2: Microbiology, Immunology, Neurosciences, Tel. +49 228 885-2566
Administrative contact:
(externer Link), Life Sciences 2: Microbiology, Immunology, Neurosciences, Tel. +49 228 885-3087
Privacy Policy
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