How the front part of the brain responds to social versus non-social rewards
Prefrontal circuits in processing social versus non-social rewards
This project looks at how prefrontal brain circuits respond to social rewards versus other rewards to better understand social motivation in autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257334 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient perspective, researchers are using mice to map which brain cells and pathways in the prefrontal cortex become active during social interactions compared with non-social rewards like food. They combine high-resolution imaging of individual neurons with optogenetics (light-based control of cells) and a new behavioral test that measures how much animals work for social contact. The team will also study how oxytocin, a hormone linked to social behavior, changes these circuits. The goal is to create a detailed map of the circuits that could later guide treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Autism Spectrum Disorder who have low social motivation are the group this research aims to help in the long term.
Not a fit: Because this is preclinical, people seeking immediate therapies or those whose problems are unrelated to social motivation are unlikely to get direct benefit now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify brain circuits and targets that lead to new treatments to improve social motivation in people with autism.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and human work shows oxytocin can affect social behavior and that non-social reward circuits are well described, but detailed mapping of prefrontal social-versus-non-social reward circuits is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Murugan, Malavika — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Murugan, Malavika
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.