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Role of the Ventral Hippocampus to Nucleus Accumbens Pathway in Cued versus Contextual Reward Learning

Award Number: F31DA065330
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2028

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Role of the Ventral Hippocampus to Nucleus Accumbens Pathway in Cued versus Contextual Reward Learning - Abstract The development of addiction is thought to involve a shift toward cue-driven behavior, such that drug-associated cues become rewarding in and of themselves. Some studies have implicated the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) to nucleus accumbens (NAc) pathway in addiction-related behaviors, though the vHPC-NAc pathway seems to be more involved in contextual processing than in cue-based responses. The focus of this proposal is to determine the effects of cocaine on synaptic transmission in the vHPC-NAc pathway, and its effects on cued versus contextually biased emotional learning. Pavlovian conditioned approach procedures can be used in animals to identify sign-trackers (STs), individuals that are more prone to attribute incentive value to reward- associated cues, versus goal-trackers (GTs) that acknowledge the cue at its onset but quickly shift their focus towards the reward and do not seek out interactions with the cue. STs are more prone to psychomotor sensitization to cocaine and have a higher tendency toward cue-induced relapse after cocaine self- administration. Interestingly, STs are also less prone to context-induced reinstatement and generally seem less able than GTs to use contextual information to modify their conditioned responses. This suggests that a shift away from contextual and toward cue-based emotional learning may predispose toward addictive behaviors. This proposal will use a series of integrative experiments to test (1) whether intermittent access to cocaine affects the efficacy of synaptic transmission within the vHPC-NAc pathway, (2) whether vHPC-NAc synaptic efficacy correlates with cued and/or contextual reinstatement of cocaine self-administration, and (3) whether cocaine self-administration causes a shift away from contextual and toward cue-based emotional learning. These scientific aims will serve as a platform to train a promising neuroscience graduate student, helping her to gain the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to become a successful and productive independent addiction researcher.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $44,164 )
2026	2026	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN	1109 GEDDES AVE STE 3300	ANN ARBOR	MI	48109	WASHTENAW	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	1	2/24/2026	NEW	$0
2026	2026	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN	1109 GEDDES AVE STE 3300	ANN ARBOR	MI	48109	WASHTENAW	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	2/24/2026	NEW	$43,588
2026	2026	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN	1109 GEDDES AVE STE 3300	ANN ARBOR	MI	48109	WASHTENAW	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	002	1	3/25/2026	NEW	$576
														Subtotal = $44,164

Grand Total All Awards = $44,164

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Role of the Ventral Hippocampus to Nucleus Accumbens Pathway in Cued versus Contextual Reward Learning

Award Number: F31DA065330

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2028

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