Unstable social reward signals in the brain's reward center
Unstable nucleus accumbens social representations in models of social behavioral dysfunction.
Researchers are looking at how brain reward circuits that help make social interaction feel rewarding become unstable in models of autism to better understand social motivation in people with autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311303 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses mouse models of autism to track how specific brain cells in the nucleus accumbens respond when animals interact socially. Scientists record activity with high-density probes and calcium imaging while mice perform tasks that give social contact as a reward. They focus on how these population-level neural patterns and dopamine inputs from the VTA become less stable in autism-linked models. The goal is to explain why social interaction may feel less rewarding and point to brain targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism spectrum disorder—especially those who struggle with social motivation or connecting in social situations—would be most likely to benefit from related future clinical work.
Not a fit: Because this is preclinical work in animal models, people seeking immediate treatments or current clinical participation are unlikely to receive direct benefit from the project now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reveal brain-circuit targets that guide new therapies to improve social motivation in people with autism.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have linked reward circuits to social behavior, but translating these findings into effective human treatments has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Golshani, Peyman — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Golshani, Peyman
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 below.