Developing a statistical model to relate reward-seeking behaviors to neural activity.
Relating behavioral measures to neural activity allows researchers to assess what neural activity is responsible for specific behavioral outputs. This information is necessary to create specific and translatable interventions for human use. Here my collaborators and I used iterative lasso regression to assess how neural activity is directly related to behavioral measures of reward-seeking. We used this regression model to assess which behavioral outputs are driven by this specific neural activity. This research allows for behavioral and neural specificity in future biomedical interventions targeted at behaviors required in substance use disorders. This research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
problem
What is the human problem motivating addiction researchers?
Researchers want to create biomedical interventions for substance use disorders that target the neural circuitry that drives the behavioral outputs necessary for substance use disorders.
However, researchers have yet to develop a holistic understanding of the neural circuitry that drives reward-seeking behaviors involved in substance use disorders.
What tools can assist addiction researchers?
Researchers need a tool to use to directly relate highly specific neural activity to behavioral outputs needed in reward/drug-seeking.
Understand which neurons in the brain drive the behavioral outputs that lead to substance use disorders and relapse.
develop a rigorous quantitative method to relate reward-seeking behavioral outputs to neural activity.
use this method to examine how a specific brain target contributes to reward-seeking behavior with basic research.
goals
approach
Use previous research articles and analysis to develop a statistical model to relate reward-seeking behaviors to neural activity in a specific brain region of interest.
conduct a literature review of previously utilized methods and analysis.
adapt statistical model for our reward-seeking behavioral paradigm and outputs.
adapt a statistical model for our method of neural activity recordings.
results
Neural activity of specific brain target contributed to auditory perception of reward predictive cue.
Regression model revealed direct encoding of reward predictive cues in over 90% of subjects.
Neural activity of specific brain target contributed to behavioral output action needed to obtain reward.
Regression model revealed direct encoding of reward retrieval behavior in over 90% of subjects.
Neural activity of specific brain target contributed to consumption of reward.
Regression model revealed direct encoding of actual reward sensing/consumption in over 90% of subjects.
benefits
A public manuscript for researchers to utilize our behavioral, neural recording and statistical methods to build on these findings.
Quantitative open source code of the regression model for researchers to use to relate other neural activity to behavioral outputs.
Proof that the brain target of interest directly encodes behavioral outputs necessary for reward/drug-seeking behavior.