Understanding how age affects motivation and reward-seeking behavior
Official title: Modeling age-specific computational strategies during reward seeking
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11031432 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the brains of teenagers and adults react to rewards and make decisions, especially when it comes to alcohol use, by observing rats to see how their brain activity changes during these important years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $222,016 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AA030670-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031432 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12-20 who may be experiencing issues related to substance use or motivation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents or those without any history of substance use may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain's circuitry related to motivation and reward-seeking changes during adolescence, particularly in the context of alcohol exposure. By studying adolescent and adult rats, the researchers aim to understand how these age groups differ in their responses to rewards and the ability to inhibit actions. The study employs advanced techniques like in vivo electrophysiology to observe brain activity and its effects on behavior. The findings could provide insights into how adolescent alcohol use impacts motivation and decision-making processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment strategies for addiction and related disorders in adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the neurobiology of motivation in adolescents can lead to significant advancements in treating addiction and related disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccane, Aqilah Maryam — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Mccane, Aqilah Maryam
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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.