# Functions of identified dorsal raphe neurons during motivated behavior

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $327,500

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter thought to be involved in many behaviors. It is released by a small number of
neurons throughout the brain. Little is known, however, about when and where serotonin is released, in the
context of well-controlled behaviors in mammals. This proposal aims to determine functions of serotonin- and
non-serotonin-releasing neurons in the dorsal raphe, the primary source of forebrain serotonin. The behaviors
to be studied involve rewards and punishments, simple motivational stimuli that elicit similar behavioral
responses across mammals (including humans). The goal of the project is to link action potentials from
identified serotonin-releasing neurons to action potentials in nearby glutamate- or GABA-releasing neurons,
and midbrain dopamine-releasing neurons, in the context of motivated behavior.
 Three aims test three hypothesis that address different mechanistic questions about the functions of
serotonin-releasing neurons: 1) dorsal raphe neurons signal reward and punishment rate and timing; 2) dorsal
raphe signals reward probability and affective decision bias; 3) dorsal raphe is involved in generating
dopaminergic reward activity. Observing activity from specific neuronal types (serotonin-, glutamate-, or GABA-
releasing) in the dorsal raphe, and manipulating them while observing activity from dopamine-releasing
neurons, while mice perform well-controlled behavioral tasks, will enable testing these three hypotheses.
Ultimately, understanding when and where serotonin is released in the brain will be necessary in
understanding affective and motivational disorders such as drug addiction and depression.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9960454
- **Project number:** 5R01DA042038-05
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeremiah Yaacov Cohen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $327,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-15 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9960454

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9960454, Functions of identified dorsal raphe neurons during motivated behavior (5R01DA042038-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9960454. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*