Understanding how dopamine affects working memory in humans
Official title: Direct Dopamine Recording From Humans Engaging Working Memory
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-10932417 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how dopamine affects our ability to remember and think while doing tasks, and it's for people with epilepsy who haven't found relief from their medications; by measuring dopamine levels in their brains during memory challenges, researchers hope to learn more about how this chemical influences thinking and memory problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $675,178 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132635-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932417 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with medication-resistant epilepsy who are undergoing monitoring with implanted electrodes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without epilepsy or those who do not have working memory deficits may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of dopamine in working memory by measuring its release in specific brain regions during cognitive tasks. Using advanced techniques, researchers will track dopamine levels in patients with medication-resistant epilepsy who have electrodes implanted in their brains. This allows for real-time monitoring of dopamine responses while participants engage in working memory tasks, providing insights into how dopamine influences cognitive control. The study aims to clarify the relationship between dopamine signaling and working memory deficits associated with various psychiatric conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for psychiatric illnesses linked to dopamine dysregulation and working memory deficits.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using similar techniques to measure neuromodulator release, indicating potential for impactful findings in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montague, P Read — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Montague, P Read
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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.