Understanding how cues influence reward learning in substance use disorders
Official title: Orbitofrontal mediation of competitive cue interactions in reward learning
Funded at Brooklyn College · NIH-10046901 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how certain signals that predict rewards can affect learning and behavior in people with substance use disorders, focusing on how the brain processes these signals and how this might differ from person to person.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brooklyn College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2020 |
| Award (this year) | $471,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R15DA051795-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10046901 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of substance use disorders or those at risk of developing such disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any substance use issues or related behavioral concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how reward-predictive cues affect learning and behavior in the context of substance use disorders (SUDs). It focuses on the role of the orbitofrontal cortex in processing these cues and how they interact with one another to influence craving and reward-seeking behaviors. By examining the neural mechanisms behind cue-reward learning, the study aims to identify individual differences in learning styles that may contribute to the risk of developing SUDs. The methodology involves using animal models to explore the electrophysiological responses of neurons in relation to reward cues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for individuals struggling with substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding cue-reward learning mechanisms, but this specific approach focusing on competitive cue interactions is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Brooklyn College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delamater, Andrew — Brooklyn College
- Study coordinator: Delamater, Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Enhancing Drug Discovery with Free Energy Modeling
A college project is developing improved computer methods to predict how strongly proteins and drugs stick together, helping scientists discover new medicines.
-
Next-generation allosteric PRC2 inhibitors to fight cancer
A study to develop new cancer drugs that block a key epigenetic pathway, aiming to help patients whose cancers resist current treatments.
-
Genetic and environmental influences on how sweet a person in the U.S. likes sugar across different ancestral groups
This project looks at how genetics and environment shape how much people in diverse U.S. groups enjoy sweetness and how that affects sugar intake.
-
Hypoxia research tool grant to study oxygen levels in cancer biology
This grant funds a hypoxia chamber to help Brooklyn College researchers study how different oxygen levels affect cancer-related processes.
-
Platinum-Gold Compounds as Potential Chemo- and Targeted Agents for Ovarian Cancer
A new platinum(IV)-gold compound approach could offer a more effective and targeted treatment for ovarian cancer patients, potentially reducing resistance and side effects of current platinum therapies.
-
How prenatal choline and maternal high-fat diets affect a child's future risk of fatty liver (NASH)
This work tests whether giving extra choline during pregnancy can lower offspring risk of fatty liver disease when exposed to high-fat diets.
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.