Molecular, Neural, and Cognitive Mechanisms of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Treat Substance Use Disorders

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is seeking to fund research on the molecular, neural, and cognitive mechanisms of non-invasive brain stimulation to treat substance use disorders. The goal is to encourage basic research using animal and human models to elucidate the mechanisms of action of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS). The research should focus on identifying molecular mechanisms and pathways by which these techniques produce their therapeutic effects in substance use disorders. • The research should use animal models to study the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on substance use disorders. • The research should investigate the molecular, cellular, and circuit level changes induced by non-invasive brain stimulation protocols. • The research should identify novel clinical targets for non-invasive brain stimulation. • The research should investigate substance use disorder-relevant neurobiological, cognitive, and behavioral responses to non-invasive brain stimulation.