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-11161935 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain areas influence our urge to seek food, especially when there are negative consequences, to help understand why some people struggle with overeating and how we might better treat obesity and eating disorders.
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) | $3,000 |
| NIH project number | 3F32DK135401-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161935 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are 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 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 focusing on how these circuits respond to negative consequences of eating behaviors. By examining the role of the mesolimbic dopamine system and specific neurons in the brainstem, the study aims to uncover how hunger and aversive stimuli affect food-seeking actions. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques, researchers will analyze neural activity in response to aversive stimuli while observing behavioral patterns in animal models. The goal is to provide insights into the neural mechanisms that drive compulsive eating, which could inform future treatments for obesity and eating disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for treating obesity and eating disorders by targeting the underlying neural circuits involved in compulsive eating behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the neural mechanisms of 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.