Understanding how the brain attaches meaning to experiences and emotions
Official title: Solving the Valence Assignment Problem
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11454754 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant supports research to map how brain circuits and signals assign positive or negative meaning to things, and how this changes with life events, with the aim of improving mental health treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $929,923 |
| NIH project number | 4R37MH102441-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454754 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with mood or anxiety disorders or substance use disorders may benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without psychiatric conditions may participate in basic research but may not receive direct medical benefits.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore where valence processing happens beyond a single brain region, expanding the map to include multiple corticolimbic areas. They will use advanced tools to watch several neuromodulators—like dopamine and acetylcholine—in real time to see how they work together during emotional states. The project also plans to test how these signals influence behavior using sophisticated imaging and animal models to understand disorders such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use. This work spans anatomy, signaling chemistry, and behavior to create a more complete picture of how mood and motivation are shaped in the brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new ways to treat psychiatric conditions by targeting the brain circuits and chemical signals that create emotional meaning.
How similar studies have gone: Past studies show that distributed brain circuits and multiple neuromodulators contribute to emotion, making this approach both foundational and promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tye, Kay Maxine — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Tye, Kay Maxine
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.