Exploring how brain activity affects emotional responses and differences between individuals and sexes
Official title: Determining the contribution of pathway-specific neural activity to individual and sex differences in the attribution of salience to emotional cues
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11040978 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain pathways affect how people, especially men and women, react to emotions, which can help us understand addiction and PTSD better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship 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 start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $42,094 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DA058358-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11040978 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing addiction or PTSD, particularly those interested in the biological and psychological factors influencing their conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing addiction or PTSD, or those with unrelated psychiatric conditions, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific neural pathways influence the way individuals and different sexes respond to emotional cues, particularly in the context of addiction and PTSD. The project involves training a graduate student in advanced behavioral neuroscience techniques, including chemogenetics and fiber photometry, to study these effects in animal models. By understanding these mechanisms, the research aims to shed light on the underlying factors that contribute to psychiatric disorders. The work will be conducted at the University of Michigan, utilizing state-of-the-art facilities for behavioral testing and analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for psychiatric disorders like addiction and PTSD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding the neural mechanisms of emotional responses, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Czesak, Frankie Nicole — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Czesak, Frankie Nicole
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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.