Understanding how the adolescent brain processes rewards and emotions
Official title: Maturation of Social and Non-Social Reward Processing in the Adolescent Amygdala and Orbitofrontal Cortex
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11040340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brains of teenagers develop the ability to handle rewards and emotions, which can help us understand why they might be more prone to issues like anxiety and depression during this important time in their lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | February 20, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $413,001 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135267-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11040340 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who may be experiencing mental health challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the adolescent age range or those not experiencing mental health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the development of brain circuits in adolescents that are responsible for processing social and non-social rewards. By studying non-human primates over a 2.5 to 3-year period, researchers will collect neurophysiological data from the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex while the subjects engage in various behavioral tasks. The goal is to uncover how changes in these brain areas influence behaviors such as risk-taking and emotional responses during adolescence, a critical time for mental health. This research aims to provide insights into the increased vulnerability of adolescents to mental disorders like anxiety and depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and interventions for mental health issues in adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding brain development and its impact on behavior, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gothard, Katalin M — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Gothard, Katalin M
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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.