How dopamine affects learning and motivation during navigation
Dopamine signaling and function during spatial navigation
This study is exploring how dopamine affects learning and motivation when navigating spaces, using virtual reality with mice to see how changes in their environment and rewards influence their behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10687833 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of dopamine in learning and motivation, particularly during spatial navigation. Using virtual reality and head-fixed mice, the study aims to differentiate between dopamine signaling related to reward prediction errors and those related to value encoding. The researchers will conduct experiments that manipulate the environment and reward cues to observe how dopamine levels change in response to different navigational tasks. This approach will help clarify the mechanisms behind dopamine's influence on behavior and decision-making.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would be individuals with conditions affecting motivation and learning, such as ADHD or Parkinson's disease.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to dopamine signaling or spatial navigation may not receive any benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of dopamine's role in motivation and learning, potentially leading to new treatments for disorders related to these functions.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in understanding dopamine's role in behavior, but this specific approach using virtual reality in mice is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Uchida, Naoshige — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Uchida, Naoshige
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.