The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) was awarded a $121,364 project grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (CFDA 93.279 - Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs) to investigate the role of dopamine projections to the amygdala in goal-directed and habit learning. The award, which runs from August 1, 2024 to March 31, 2028, will support the use of optogenetics, fiber photometry, and behavioral studies to characterize the function of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic projections to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and central amygdala (CEA) and their contributions to different decision-making strategies. This research aims to advance the understanding of the neural circuitry underlying adaptive and maladaptive decision-making, with potential implications for substance use disorder and other psychiatric conditions.
Generated 3/4/25, 7:23 AM