A brain circuit that makes cues trigger urges and habits
Probing the role of a hypothalamic-thalamic-striatal circuit in cue-driven behaviors
This work looks at how a specific brain circuit causes environmental cues to trigger powerful urges and relapse-like behavior relevant to addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145719 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you've struggled with cue-triggered cravings, this research looks in rats to understand why some environmental cues become powerful triggers while others don't. Scientists compare animals that are drawn to cues ('sign-trackers') with those that focus on the reward ('goal-trackers') to isolate a hypothalamic-thalamic-striatal brain circuit that gives cues motivational pull. They will record activity in that circuit and manipulate it to see how those changes alter cue-driven actions and relapse-like drug-seeking. The goal is to reveal specific neural steps that could be targeted to weaken cue-triggered cravings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of substance use disorder or who experience strong cue-triggered cravings or relapse may find this research relevant.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms are unrelated to cue-triggered motivation (for example some mood or cognitive disorders) are unlikely to see direct benefit from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to brain targets or strategies that reduce cue-triggered cravings and lower the risk of relapse.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have linked cue-driven motivation to other brain circuits and to sign- versus goal-tracking behavior, but this circuit-specific work is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Flagel, Shelly Beth — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Flagel, Shelly Beth
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.