Understanding how brain activity affects pleasure-seeking behavior in depression
Official title: Causal role of delta-beta coupling for goal-directed behavior in anhedonia
Funded at Florida State University · NIH-10927445 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain works when people have trouble feeling pleasure, which often happens with depression, to help find better ways to treat those who struggle with this issue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project start | September 13, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00MH126161-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10927445 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with depression who experience significant anhedonia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have depression or do not experience symptoms of anhedonia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the brain mechanisms behind anhedonia, a condition where individuals struggle to seek and experience pleasure, often linked to depression. By examining the neural circuits involved in reward-based decision-making, the study aims to understand how decreased brain activity in specific areas affects goal-directed behavior. Using advanced techniques like functional MRI and EEG, researchers will explore the relationship between different brain wave patterns and the ability to pursue rewarding experiences. The goal is to identify potential targets for improving treatment strategies for those suffering from anhedonia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating anhedonia in patients with depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated the involvement of neural circuits in anhedonia, but this study aims to provide novel causal insights into these mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida State University
Tallahassee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riddle, Justin M — Florida State University
- Study coordinator: Riddle, Justin M
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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.