Understanding how social and monetary rewards affect pleasure and emotions in at-risk adolescents
Official title: Neural Indices of Social and Monetary Reward Processing as Predictors of Real-World Pleasure and Affect in Adolescents at Risk for Depression
Funded at State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11051103 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how teenagers who might be at risk for depression react to social and money rewards, by checking how their brains respond during these experiences, to help us understand what affects their happiness and emotional health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Binghamton, United States) |
| Project start | March 14, 2024 |
| Project end | March 13, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $33,708 |
| NIH project number | 5F31MH135649-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11051103 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12-20 who have a maternal history of major depressive disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a family history of depression or who are outside the adolescent age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how adolescents at risk for depression respond to social and monetary rewards, focusing on their brain activity during these experiences. By using advanced techniques to measure neural responses, the study aims to connect laboratory findings with real-world feelings of pleasure and emotional well-being. The goal is to better understand the factors that contribute to depression in adolescents, particularly those with a family history of the condition. Participants will engage in tasks designed to assess their reactions to different types of rewards, providing valuable insights into their emotional health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for adolescents at risk of depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding reward processing in adolescents, but this study aims to explore new connections between laboratory findings and real-world emotional experiences.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of Ny,binghamton
Binghamton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Israel, Elana — State University of Ny,binghamton
- Study coordinator: Israel, Elana
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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.