How early-life stress changes brain circuits for pleasure and motivation
On circuit mechanisms of reward behaviors after early-life adversity
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · NIH-11164556
This research looks at whether stress or hardship in early life alters a specific brain pathway that can lead to reduced pleasure and motivation in adults who experienced childhood adversity.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IRVINE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11164556 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers use a well‑characterized rodent model of early‑life adversity to study how childhood stress changes brain circuits that control reward. They focus on a newly discovered group of neurons that release the stress‑related peptide CRH and connect the basolateral amygdala to the nucleus accumbens. The team will test how this pathway affects reward seeking (motivation) and reward consumption in male and female mice and whether early‑life adversity causes lasting changes. Findings aim to explain sex differences and circuit changes that could underlie anhedonia after early stress.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who experienced significant early‑life adversity and now have reduced pleasure, low motivation, or symptoms of depression would be the human group most related to this work.
Not a fit: People without a history of early‑life stress or those seeking immediate clinical treatments may not see direct benefits from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets in the brain for treatments to help people with anhedonia and depression linked to childhood adversity.
How similar studies have performed: Prior rodent studies have linked early‑life stress and CRH‑related signaling to changes in reward circuits, but this specific CRH+ basolateral amygdala to nucleus accumbens pathway is newly described and not yet tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
IRVINE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE — IRVINE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BARAM, TALLIE Z. — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- Study coordinator: BARAM, TALLIE Z.
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.