Are memory problems linked to loss of pleasure (anhedonia)?
Testing a Memory-Based Hypothesis for Anhedonia
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · NIH-11501053
This project looks at whether memory problems help explain why adults with conditions like depression, PTSD, or schizophrenia lose interest in things they used to enjoy.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IRVINE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11501053 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I join, I would do memory and reward tasks while researchers record my behavior and brain activity. They will compare how I respond in the moment to pleasant experiences versus how I remember them later, focusing on memory areas such as the hippocampus (including Ammon's horn) and reward circuits. The team will include adults with anhedonia related to depression, schizophrenia, or PTSD as well as healthy adults for comparison, and they will apply computational and AI methods to analyze patterns. Most tests and brain imaging visits would be done in person at UC Irvine.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) experiencing anhedonia or with diagnoses such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or PTSD, as well as healthy adults for comparison, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People whose loss of pleasure is due primarily to non-psychiatric medical conditions, active substance intoxication, or who have severe cognitive impairment preventing task participation may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal biological markers of anhedonia and lead to better ways to diagnose and treat loss of pleasure.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work shows reward-circuit problems in anhedonia, but the idea that memory failures drive anhedonia is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
IRVINE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE — IRVINE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YASSA, MICHAEL A — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- Study coordinator: YASSA, MICHAEL A
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.