Improve mood to help adults with methamphetamine use disorder make better choices
Official title: Modulating explore-exploit biases by improving mood in adults with amphetamine use disorder
Funded at Laureate Institute for Brain Research · NIH-11413543 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests a mood-improvement approach to help adults with methamphetamine use disorder choose healthier options more often.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Laureate Institute for Brain Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tulsa, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $205,194 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM121312-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413543 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who are abstinent from methamphetamine and willing to engage in mood-improvement tasks and brain imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not currently abstinent or unwilling to participate in MRI/fMRI tasks may not benefit.
What this research studies
People with methamphetamine use disorder often feel down and anxious, which can make them reach for drugs. The study uses a non-drug memory technique to lift mood and then checks if this helps people make better decisions about drugs vs. healthier rewards. Researchers will measure mood changes and brain activity to see how decision-making shifts during abstinence. The goal is to see if a simple mood boost can normalize brain signals involved in choosing between drug and non-drug rewards.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer drug cravings and better decision-making during recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests mood and decision-making are linked, with mood improvements potentially supporting better choices in addiction contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Laureate Institute for Brain Research
Tulsa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gueguen, Maëlle Camille Marie — Laureate Institute for Brain Research
- Study coordinator: Gueguen, Maëlle Camille Marie
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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.