How dopamine affects learning and behavior

Striatal Dopamine's Role in Associative Learning and Behavior

['FUNDING_FELLOWSHIP'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-10824454

This study is looking at how a brain chemical called dopamine helps us learn to connect certain signals with rewards, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how this process works in both people and animals, which could help improve treatments for mental health issues.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_FELLOWSHIP']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorCOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10824454 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates the role of striatal dopamine in associative learning, which is how we learn to associate cues with rewards. By using tasks that measure how well subjects learn these associations, the study aims to understand how dopamine influences decision-making and learning processes. The research involves both human and rodent models to explore the underlying mechanisms of dopamine's role in these tasks, providing insights that could lead to new treatments for cognitive impairments in psychiatric disorders.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with cognitive impairments related to psychiatric conditions.

Not a fit: Patients without cognitive impairments or those not affected by psychiatric disorders may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for improving cognitive function in patients with mental health disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding dopamine's role in learning, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Mental health disorders, Psychiatric Disease, Psychiatric Disorder, psychological disorder, Mental disorders

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.