Understanding how cocaine use affects habitual behaviors
Official title: Circuit mechanisms underlying inflexible habitual behaviors following chronic cocaine use
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11137222 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how long-term cocaine use changes the way the brain controls habits, which can influence both drug use and everyday activities, and it's being done with mice to help us understand more about addiction in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $136,929 |
| NIH project number | 1K99DA060930-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137222 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research are individuals with a history of cocaine use disorder or those exhibiting habitual behaviors related to substance use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of cocaine use or those with other types of substance use disorders may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how chronic cocaine use alters the brain's mechanisms that control habitual behaviors, which can affect both drug-related and non-drug activities. By studying mice with a history of cocaine self-administration, the research aims to determine how cocaine impacts dopamine release and the balance between different brain regions involved in action control. The methodology includes advanced techniques like fiber photometry and optogenetics to observe changes in brain activity and behavior. The findings could provide insights into the underlying causes of addiction and habitual behavior in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for individuals struggling with cocaine use disorder by targeting the mechanisms that drive inflexible behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the neural mechanisms of addiction can lead to significant advancements in treatment strategies, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chevee, Maxime F. — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Chevee, Maxime F.
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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.