How acute opioid use affects brain circuits related to reward and pain.
Official title: Electrophysiological Dynamics of Acute Opioid Use in Human Reward, Affect, and Pain Pathways
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11054911 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using opioids affects the brain's reward and pain systems in people with chronic pain who might be at risk for addiction, by directly measuring brain activity in awake patients with special electrodes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $159,711 |
| NIH project number | 1K01DA060327-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11054911 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with chronic pain who are using opioids and may be at risk for developing opioid use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have chronic pain or are not using opioids may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of acute opioid use on the brain's reward and pain pathways, particularly in patients with chronic pain who may be at risk for opioid use disorder. By directly recording neuronal signals from specific brain regions in awake individuals with implanted electrodes, the study aims to understand how opioid use alters neural connectivity. The focus is on areas of the brain that are crucial for processing reward, affect, and pain, providing insights into the relationship between opioid use and addiction. This approach combines advanced neuroimaging techniques with real-time data collection from human subjects to uncover dynamic changes in brain function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for patients with chronic pain and opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the neural mechanisms of opioid use and addiction, but this specific approach of direct neuronal recording in humans is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryu, Jihye — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Ryu, Jihye
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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.