How the brain changes during learning and reward
Cortical plasticity during reinforcement learning
This research looks at how brain circuits change with learning to help people with ADHD and other thinking or learning problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11369578 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use mice to watch brain cells over weeks with high-resolution imaging and to measure dopamine signals while the animals learn tasks that involve fast and slow kinds of learning. They will turn specific brain signals on or off with optogenetics and alter synaptic plasticity to see which circuits are needed for long-term learning. The team will compare these biological results to artificial deep reinforcement learning models to better link brain mechanisms to behavior. Findings aim to clarify how the orbitofrontal cortex and its dopamine inputs support adapting strategies over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll people; its results are most relevant to individuals with ADHD or difficulties in flexible thinking.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate new treatments are unlikely to benefit directly, since the work is preclinical in mice rather than a human trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new diagnostic markers or treatment targets for ADHD and other disorders of learning and cognitive flexibility.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have linked dopamine and cortical plasticity to learning, but combining long-term two-photon imaging, optogenetics, and deep RL modeling is a newer and more integrative approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Komiyama, Takaki — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Komiyama, Takaki
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.