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Neurobehavioral markers of positive valence systems in mothers with depression and young offspring

Award Number: K23MH131753
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/12/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2028

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Neurobehavioral markers of positive valence systems in mothers with depression and young offspring - PROJECT SUMMARY Depression is prevalent, debilitating, and costly, and derives from complex combinations of genetic and environmental factors. Maternal depression is one of the most established risk factors of depression in offspring, yet the genetic and environmental risk factors tied to intergenerational risk are complex and largely unspecified. Dyadic research examining mother–child neural and behavioral processes is critically needed to identify early pathways and mechanisms of increased depression risk. To this end, the current research strategy suggests a neurobehavioral pathway of early childhood risk development such that depression in mothers is characterized by dampened positive valence systems (PVS) neural activation, leading to decreased engagement in co-experienced positive affect with young offspring, and resulting in dampened PVS neural activation in the young children of mothers with depression. I will assess 125 mother−child (age=18months) dyads. In the first laboratory visit, diagnostic interviews will assess mothers’ lifetime depression history. In the second laboratory visit, dyads will complete a series of tasks to examine neural indicators of PVS activation and mother−child co-experienced positive affect. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potential (ERP) neural indicators, particularly frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) and the late positive potential (LPP), reliable measures of approach motivation and motivated attention, respectively, will be used to measure PVS activation at the neural level for both mothers and young children. Co-experienced positive affect will be coded via the Dyadic Interaction Coding System. This project will allow me to examine a potential neurobehavioral pathway from depression in mothers to the development of increased depression risk in offspring. First, I will examine the association between mothers’ depressive symptoms and neural PVS activation in the context of interactions with offspring (Specific Aim 1). Then, I will examine the association between mothers’ depressive symptoms, prenatally and postpartum, and observed co-experienced positive affect in mother–child interactions and test the moderating role of individual differences in mothers’ neural PVS activation on this association (Specific Aim 2). Lastly, I will examine the cumulative and unique effects of co-experienced positive affect and mothers’ neural PVS function on children’s PVS function. These aims leverage a rigorous multimethod research design to provide foundational insight on dyadic neurobehavioral mechanisms of depression vulnerability, crucial for developing more targeted preventions for those at highest risk for depression. In addition, my proposed training goals are to develop advanced skills through rigorous training in: infant and early childhood mental health, dyadic behavioral paradigms and assessment of caregiver–child interactions, dyadic and early childhood neurophysiological assessments, and advanced quantitative methods.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $187,229 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC	940 GRACE HALL	NOTRE DAME	IN	46556	ST JOSEPH	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	005	4	8/11/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$187,219
2025	2024	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY	110 21ST AVE S	NASHVILLE	TN	37203	DAVIDSON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	11/22/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$187,142
2025	2024	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY	110 21ST AVE S	NASHVILLE	TN	37203	DAVIDSON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	003	2	3/7/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC	940 GRACE HALL	NOTRE DAME	IN	46556	ST JOSEPH	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	004	3	3/7/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$4,660
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC	940 GRACE HALL	NOTRE DAME	IN	46556	ST JOSEPH	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	11/22/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$187,152
2025	2023	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY	110 21ST AVE S	NASHVILLE	TN	37203	DAVIDSON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	1	3/7/2025	NEW	-$4,659
														Subtotal = $187,229

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $187,143 )
2024	2024	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY	110 21ST AVE S	NASHVILLE	TN	37203	DAVIDSON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	5/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$187,143
														Subtotal = $187,143

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $183,941 )
2023	2023	VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY	110 21ST AVE S	NASHVILLE	TN	37203	DAVIDSON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	5/29/2023	NEW	$183,941
														Subtotal = $183,941

Grand Total All Awards = $558,313

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Neurobehavioral markers of positive valence systems in mothers with depression and young offspring

Award Number: K23MH131753

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/12/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2028

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