Understanding how brain circuits influence compulsive food seeking behavior
Official title: Identifying the contribution of a brainstem circuit to compulsive food seeking
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10923900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain areas influence our drive to find food, even when there are negative consequences, and it's designed for anyone interested in understanding the brain's role in hunger and food-seeking behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $74,284 |
| NIH project number | 5F32DK135401-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10923900 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals struggling with obesity or eating disorders characterized by compulsive food seeking.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience compulsive eating behaviors or who have other unrelated eating disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the brain circuits involved in compulsive food seeking, particularly how these circuits respond to negative consequences like aversive stimuli. By examining the role of the mesolimbic dopamine system and specific neurons in the brainstem, the study aims to uncover how hunger affects the motivation to seek food despite potential negative outcomes. Using advanced techniques like in vivo neuroimaging and calcium imaging, researchers will analyze the neural activity associated with food-seeking behaviors in response to aversive stimuli.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for obesity and eating disorders by targeting the neural mechanisms that drive compulsive eating behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the neural circuits related to compulsive behaviors, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Nicholas K — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Smith, Nicholas K
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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.