Brain circuits that control motivation and learning
Dissecting basal ganglia circuits underlying motivated behaviors
Researchers are mapping how specific parts of the basal ganglia control motivation and learning to help people with autism, depression, OCD, and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250041 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project maps how two parts of the dorsal striatum (the striosome and the matrix) control motivation and reinforcement learning using high-resolution imaging and targeted manipulations in laboratory models. Scientists will record activity from identified neurons during reward and learning tasks and change their activity to see how behavior and motivation are altered. The team links these circuit changes to features of autism, depression, and OCD to suggest how dysfunctions might cause learning and mood problems. Over time, the results could point to new targets for treatments that restore more normal motivational control.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism, major depressive disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, or other conditions marked by motivation or learning difficulties would be the groups most likely to benefit from future clinical work informed by these findings.
Not a fit: This laboratory-based research does not offer immediate treatments, so patients seeking direct, near-term clinical benefit are unlikely to gain from participating now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal specific brain-circuit targets that guide development of new treatments to improve motivation, learning, or mood in disorders like autism, depression, and OCD.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal circuit-mapping studies have successfully linked neural pathways to Parkinsonism and addiction behaviors, but the specific role of striosome neurons in motivation and psychiatric symptoms remains relatively novel and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Cold Spring Harbor, United States
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory — Cold Spring Harbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tollkuhn, Jessica — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Tollkuhn, Jessica
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.