How stress affects social behavior in adolescents and adults
Official title: Developmental programming of stress-sensitive neural circuits underlying social behavior
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11077753 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how social stress during teenage years can lead to anxiety and depression, especially in females, by exploring the role of certain hormones in the brain, using California mice to understand these effects better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | April 22, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $644,100 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135937-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077753 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and adults who have experienced social stressors and may be at risk for anxiety or depression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of social stress exposure or those with unrelated mental health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to social stress during adolescence influences the development of mental health issues like anxiety and depression. It focuses on the role of androgens, hormones that affect brain structure and function, in programming neural circuits that govern social behavior. Using California mice as a model, the study examines how these hormonal changes during puberty impact responses to social stress, particularly in females. The research employs advanced neuroscience techniques to explore these mechanisms and their long-term effects on behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment strategies for stress-related mental illnesses, particularly in adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that hormonal influences during adolescence can significantly affect behavior, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Trainor, Brian C — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Trainor, Brian C
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.