Understanding how dopamine changes affect motivation and behavior
Official title: Use-Dependent Adjustments to Dopamine Reception in Motivational Control
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11023462 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in dopamine, a brain chemical that helps motivate us, can affect mental health, especially in people dealing with addiction and depression, using fruit flies to learn more about how these changes happen after we reach our goals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $529,878 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS140165-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11023462 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with addiction or motivational disorders related to dopamine signaling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have issues related to motivation or addiction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of dopamine signaling in motivational control, particularly how disruptions in this signaling can lead to mental health issues like addiction and depression. By using a genetically tractable system involving Drosophila (fruit flies), the study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind dopamine desensitization that occurs after achieving goals. The researchers will explore how repeated behaviors, such as mating, can lead to changes in dopamine receptor sensitivity, which may help explain the challenges faced by individuals with addictive disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights and treatments for addiction and related mental health disorders by targeting dopamine signaling pathways.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of linking dopamine desensitization to motivational control is novel, similar research has shown promise in understanding addiction and behavior through genetic models.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crickmore, Michael a — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Crickmore, Michael a
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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.