How dopamine connections develop to control movement and motivation
Official title: Activity-dependent development of dopamine synapses, release modes, and actions
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11455823 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Boston Children’s Hospital looks at how dopamine brain circuits develop to influence movement, reward, and motivation, with potential relevance to ADHD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $888,421 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DA042744-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11455823 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with ADHD or related movement/attention regulation difficulties may benefit from advances in understanding dopamine circuitry.
✕Less likely to help
People without ADHD or related conditions may not directly benefit from this basic science study.
What this research studies
This project examines how dopamine nerve connections in the brain mature to support different modes of dopamine release that influence movement and reward. Researchers will study molecular signals from certain brain cells that shape where dopamine synapses form and how they function differently in pathways related to movement and reward. The work uses animal or cellular models to uncover how these synapses develop, with a focus on mechanisms tied to ADHD-related behaviors. Insights from this research could inform future strategies to better manage ADHD symptoms by targeting dopamine circuit development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform new approaches to treat ADHD by targeting how dopamine circuits mature and regulate movement and motivation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that specific signaling molecules shape dopamine synapse development, supporting the potential for meaningful progress with this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Umemori, Hisashi — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Umemori, Hisashi
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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.