Understanding motivation in the brain's VTA GABA/glutamate system and its link to mood disorders
Official title: Balancing motivation through VTA GABA/Glutamate co-transmission
Funded at Dartmouth College · NIH-11401131 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at Dartmouth will study how a specific brain circuit that uses both inhibitory and excitatory signals influences motivation and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00MH130688-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401131 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or major depression who may benefit from future circuit-targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those without mood disorders may not directly benefit from this basic brain-circuit study.
What this research studies
This project explores how cells in the ventral tegmental area communicate with the amygdala to control motivation and emotional responses. The team will use advanced imaging to watch how these GABA and glutamate signals behave in living animals, and how that relates to behavior. The goal is to uncover neural circuit mechanisms that could lead to targeted therapies for mood-related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform new approaches for treating mood disorders by targeting brain circuits that regulate motivation and emotion.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked VTA circuits to motivation, but this project investigates a specific GABA/glutamate co-release pathway that is less understood.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth College
Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Warlow, Shelley May — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Warlow, Shelley May
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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.