# Integrative studies of the influence of reward on sequential control in human and nonhuman primates

> **NIH NIH F32** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $67,446

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
 Goal-directed and habitual behaviors form the repertoire of daily actions, e.g. making a cup of coffee;
however, when combined into more complex rituals or sequences of tasks, such behaviors may underlie
reward-driven drug seeking and taking in addiction.! While such task sequences appear simple because they
are easily performed, the necessary skills may be complex and require high-level executive function and
oversight from the frontal cortex. For example, multiple subtasks to obtain drugs (e.g. obtain money and setup
meeting place for exchange) must be planned and then executed (e.g. crush or inject drug) to achieve an
overarching goal, which may further depend on the rewarding properties and/or context of the sequence (e.g.,
amount of drug or preferred drug availability). Although addiction is characterized by dysfunction within
frontostriatal circuits that underlie reward-driven behavior, it is unknown whether there is relationship between
reward and sequential task control, and whether deficits in reward-driven sequential control may drive
addiction. We will establish a cross-species model of the influence of reward on sequential task control,
creating a foundation for future studies to develop novel therapies for addictive behaviors.
 The overarching goal of the proposed training is to utilize integrative human and awake-behaving
macaque monkey fMRI in parallel. This research plan will characterize the neural underpinnings of reward and
sequential task control across species. The proposed studies will establish a macaque model of complex
sequential control that uniquely capitalizes on potential functional homologies between macaques and
humans. Importantly, these studies will provide training in fMRI methodology and animal research experience
in a model suited to study of higher order behaviors dependent upon the frontal cortex.
 Aim 1 will test whether reward magnitude (1a) and temporal proximity to sequence completion (1b) in
human fMRI studies modulate neural correlates of sequential control. In parallel experiments, awake-behaving
monkey fMRI (Aim 2) will directly apply the same sequential task used in humans from Aim 1a. Thus, Aim 2
will test functional network homology across species to determine the influence of reward on sequential
behavior (2a). Further, we will test whether brain regions underlying sequential control in macaques show
dynamics similar to those found in humans (2b). These studies will not only be the first to examine reward-
driven sequential control, but will directly compare complex sequential task performance across both species.
 Together, the proposed studies will establish an animal model that will enable future studies to
invasively manipulate neural circuit function in both humans and monkeys during sequential task behavior; this
work will uniquely contribute to cross-species work on addiction in clinical and preclinical models. These
findings will have broad applications to under...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9942401
- **Project number:** 5F32DA045451-03
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Theresa McKim
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $67,446
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9942401

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9942401, Integrative studies of the influence of reward on sequential control in human and nonhuman primates (5F32DA045451-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9942401. Licensed CC0.

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