Objective
Our expectations about the world shape our mood and well-being. In extreme contexts, mood can become pathologically depressed as in mood disorders or dementia. Recent studies have begun to suggest a mechanism for how expectations (and their violation) impact human moods. Unfortunately, this mechanism relies on correlational studies since we currently lack tools able to directly manipulate these circuits in healthy humans. UltraDeepMood will combine cutting-edge ultrasound stimulation with imaging and computational modeling to determine the hypothesis that human moods can be changed by modulating expectation signalling in deep brain subcallosal cingulate circuits.
UltraDeepMood will overcome the current major limitations hindering our understanding of mood circuits in humans. First, the lack of non-invasive tools to modulate activity deep in the healthy brain: by using focused transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), a technique I have pioneered in deep primate areas, I will non-invasively manipulate human circuits to causally establish their role in mood. Second, by using TUS to modulate dopamine-projecting areas, I will directly modulate learning and decision processes in the striatum and disentangle them from those underlying mood and well-being in subcallosal anterior cingulate cortex.
UltraDeepMood has three key aims: (1) dissociate the contribution of gray versus white matter TUS to mood connectivity; (2) combine TUS with fMRI and computational models to determine the role of deep cingulate circuits to mood; (3) directly manipulate related circuits of learning and decision-making.
UltraDeepMood will reveal a novel mechanistic insight into the circuits of moods and well-being in the healthy brain. This non-invasive approach will open an unprecedented avenue in shaping our understanding of deep brain circuits. Determining this is foundational for establishing the basis of mood symptoms and developing new therapies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
20132 Milano
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.