Understanding brain and behavior patterns linked to addiction risk in young adults
Neurobehavioral signatures of sign- and goal-tracking in emerging adults: Translation of a preclinical model
This research helps us understand why some young adults might be more prone to addiction by looking at how their brains respond to rewards and cues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195057 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are exploring how individual differences in brain and behavior might make some young adults more susceptible to developing substance use disorders. This work builds on successful animal models of addiction, adapting them to study these patterns in people. By observing how young adults react to certain cues and rewards, we hope to identify specific brain and behavioral markers. This could help us better understand who is at higher risk for addiction and why, especially during the critical emerging adult years.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related studies would likely be emerging adults, around 20 years of age, who may or may not have a history of substance use.
Not a fit: Patients outside the emerging adult age range or those not interested in understanding addiction risk may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better ways to identify individuals at high risk for addiction and develop more targeted prevention or early intervention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: This work translates well-established animal models of addiction to humans, building on prior successes in understanding reward responses in animals.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cope, Lora M. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Cope, Lora M.
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.