How trauma therapy changes brain reward processing
The effects of trauma-focused psychotherapy on reward circuitry function and information encoding
This project will see if cognitive processing therapy helps people with PTSD restore normal brain responses to rewards during learning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249970 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive a standard trauma-focused therapy called cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and complete computerized reward-learning tasks while having functional MRI scans before and after treatment. Researchers will use computer-based reinforcement-learning models to measure how your brain encodes reward information in regions like the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum. The team will compare brain signals when rewards appear with and without threat cues to mimic real-world PTSD triggers. The approach looks for changes in reward circuitry that might explain improvements in positive emotions after therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with PTSD who report reduced positive emotions or interest and who can attend in-person therapy and MRI sessions are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without PTSD, those who cannot safely undergo MRI (e.g., due to implanted metal or severe claustrophobia), or those unable to participate in CPT are unlikely to benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how CPT improves diminished positive affect in PTSD and help guide more targeted treatments for anhedonia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have found abnormal reward-circuit function in PTSD and preliminary data suggest CPT can change these signals, but applying reinforcement-learning models to track these changes in fMRI is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fonzo, Gregory — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Fonzo, Gregory
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.