Understanding how learning affects substance use disorders
Official title: Transfer of function across equivalence classes: Implications for substance use
Funded at University of North Carolina Wilmington · NIH-10870805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how learning and memory affect addiction and relapse by observing how rats connect different smells with rewards, which could help us understand similar behaviors in people dealing with substance use disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Wilmington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wilmington, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $451,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R15DA058909-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10870805 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals struggling with substance use disorders or those at risk of developing such conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have substance use disorders or related cognitive issues may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how complex learning and memory processes influence the development and relapse of substance use disorders (SUDs). Using a novel animal model, the study examines how rats learn to associate different odors with rewards and how these associations can change over time. By exploring the transfer of learned behaviors across different stimuli, the research aims to uncover insights that may apply to human behaviors related to substance use. The findings could help in understanding the cognitive processes that contribute to addiction and recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing and treating substance use disorders in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding the cognitive aspects of addiction through similar associative learning models, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bruce, Katherine Ely — University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Study coordinator: Bruce, Katherine Ely
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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.