How the brain processes rewards and expectations in mood disorders
Neural mechanisms of affective processing in prefrontal-limbic circuits
This study is looking at how certain parts of the brain affect our ability to feel pleasure and enjoy rewards, which can be a challenge for people dealing with mood and anxiety disorders, and it hopes to find better ways to help those who struggle with these feelings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10669730 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the neural mechanisms behind anhedonia, a symptom of mood and anxiety disorders characterized by a lack of positive feelings from rewarding experiences. It focuses on understanding how specific brain regions, particularly the subcallosal anterior cingulate cortex, influence the expectation and receipt of rewards at the level of individual neurons. By examining the interactions between this area and other brain structures like the amygdala and ventral striatum, the research aims to uncover the underlying circuits involved in reward processing. This knowledge could lead to improved treatments for patients suffering from anhedonia through interventions like deep brain stimulation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with mood disorders or anxiety disorders who experience symptoms of anhedonia.
Not a fit: Patients without mood or anxiety disorders, or those who do not experience anhedonia, may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for alleviating anhedonia in patients with mood and anxiety disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in understanding reward processing in the brain, particularly with interventions like deep brain stimulation, suggesting that this research builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rudebeck, Peter — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Rudebeck, Peter
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.