How the brain adapts to unexpected loss of rewards
Official title: Corticothalamic circuits mediating behavioral adaptations to unexpected reward omission
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11088179 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how certain brain areas react when we don’t get a reward we were expecting, like food, and it aims to understand how this affects our behavior, which could help us learn more about how people feel and adapt when things don’t go as planned.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 13, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $601,146 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131570-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088179 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals experiencing anxiety disorders or difficulties with reward processing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have anxiety disorders or related behavioral issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain's circuits respond when expected rewards, like food, are suddenly omitted. It focuses on the anterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus and its connections to other brain areas, examining how these circuits influence behavior changes in response to reward loss. By studying animal behavior, the research aims to uncover the neural mechanisms that drive both increased and decreased reward-seeking behaviors following reward omission. This could provide insights into emotional responses and behavioral adaptations in similar situations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders and other conditions related to reward processing.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding brain circuits related to reward processing, making this approach promising.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Do Monte, Fabricio Hoffmann — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Do Monte, Fabricio Hoffmann
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.