Understanding how people with schizophrenia make decisions about effort and rewards
Official title: Computational Mechanisms of Effort-Cost Decision-Making in Schizophrenia
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-10863913 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with schizophrenia think about the effort needed to get rewards, which can impact their motivation and daily life, and it compares their decision-making to that of healthy individuals to find ways to help improve motivation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $165,459 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH126986-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10863913 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience motivational deficits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of schizophrenia or those who do not experience motivational impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals with schizophrenia evaluate the effort required to achieve rewards, which can affect their motivation and daily functioning. By comparing decision-making processes between those with schizophrenia and healthy individuals, the study aims to identify whether these individuals are less sensitive to rewards or more sensitive to the effort involved. The research employs experimental tasks and computational modeling to analyze these decision-making mechanisms, potentially leading to better-targeted interventions for motivational impairments. Mobile-based assessments will also be utilized to gather real-time data on participants' decision-making in everyday situations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for motivational impairments in individuals with schizophrenia, enhancing their quality of life and occupational functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that understanding decision-making processes in mental health can lead to significant advancements in treatment, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Culbreth, Adam J. — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Culbreth, Adam J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Decision-Making in Schizophrenia
This project looks at how people with schizophrenia make decisions, especially how they gather and use information, to help them make choices that improve their daily lives.
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Improving decision-making in people with schizophrenia using brain imaging and real-life experiences
This study is looking at how people with schizophrenia make decisions and what affects those choices, using special brain scans and eye-tracking to help find ways to support better decision-making and improve their everyday lives.
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How social influence affects decision-making about effort in people with schizophrenia
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Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
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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.