# Evaluating State-Based Network Dynamics in Anhedonia

> **NIH NIH F31** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $43,420

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Anhedonia, the loss of motivation to engage in previously enjoyable activities, is associated with significant
clinical impairment. Importantly, anhedonia is implicated in several different psychiatric disorders, presenting a
promising opportunity for transdiagnostic treatment. In spite of its clinical significance, anhedonia is typically
overlooked as a primary treatment target. Consequently, developing targeted treatments for anhedonia is of
critical importance for population mental health. The present proposal aims to address this critical need by
clarifying network-level neural dysfunction in a transdiagnostic anhedonia sample, with the long-term goal of
identifying potential treatment targets. Specifically, the proposed project will take a graph-theoretical approach
to address the following specific aims: (1) establish how brain network segregation and integration during the
anticipation of rewards predict anhedonic symptom severity, and (2) assess how variability in network
reconfiguration when transitioning from rest to reward anticipation contributes to anhedonic symptom severity.
The proposed analyses will utilize already collected baseline neuroimaging and self-report data from a NIMH
contract (#HHSN271201200006I; PI: Andrew Krystal, MD). The applicant’s long-term career goal is to conduct
translational research utilizing novel, transdiagnostic methods to examine the neural indices of reward-
processing and their associated clinical implications with the overall target of developing mechanistically driven
treatments. As such, the proposed project will provide mentored training with the overall goal of deepening the
applicant’s interdisciplinary training, bridging the gap between clinical psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
Specific training goals include: (1) extensive training in advanced brain network analytic techniques, and graph-
theoretical approaches, (2) enhanced understanding of evidence-based clinical research relevant to anhedonia,
(3) bolstering the applicant’s grant-writing and presentation skills as well as building her publication record, (4)
practical and applied training in clinical trial design and management, and (5) further training in ethical issues in
psychology and the responsible conduct of research. This training plan and research proposal have been
strategically developed to foster the applicant’s independence as a researcher and equip her with a specialized
interdisciplinary skillset to prepare her for a successful career as a translational researcher.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10102123
- **Project number:** 5F31MH120900-02
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Angela Pisoni
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $43,420
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-21 → 2023-01-20

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10102123

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10102123, Evaluating State-Based Network Dynamics in Anhedonia (5F31MH120900-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10102123. Licensed CC0.

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