How brain cannabinoid signals affect memory and motivation
Endocannabinoid Control of Cholinergic Transmission and the Pursuit of Reward
This research looks at how cannabinoid signals that control acetylcholine in the brain influence memory and the drive to pursue rewards, with implications for people with Alzheimer’s or memory problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325822 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors on acetylcholine-releasing nerve endings that connect the medial septum to the hippocampus change brain rhythms and behavior. They will combine animal experiments (including animals with targeted removal of CB1 on cholinergic neurons), behavioral tests of working memory and reward motivation, and brain recordings to link cellular mechanisms to task performance. Findings will be compared and related to existing human data on cholinergic function in Alzheimer’s disease. The overall approach aims to connect basic circuit changes to behaviors that matter for memory and motivation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults with Alzheimer’s disease or measurable memory impairment, and possibly older healthy volunteers, who can attend study visits or provide clinical samples at the research site.
Not a fit: People without memory problems, those under age 21, or individuals with dementias unrelated to cholinergic dysfunction are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to target CB1–acetylcholine interactions to improve memory and motivation in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical animal studies have shown that changing CB1 receptor signaling alters memory and motivation, but direct human treatments targeting this pathway for Alzheimer’s remain limited and largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheer, Joseph F — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Cheer, Joseph F
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.