Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Branch (BCN)

What We Do:

The Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Branch (BCN) supports human and animal experimental investigations of substance use disorders (SUD) and their underlying mechanisms. This includes a focus on behavioral, cognitive, and neurobiological mechanisms driving the consequences of substance use and underlying the various phases of SUD – including initiation of substance use, transition from recreational/medical to compulsive use, relapse, and recovery. We also support research on neurocognitive processes fundamental to SUD (e.g., decision-making, reward/punishment learning, social cognition).

BCN is particularly interested in advancing research on the following themes:

  • Computational cognitive neuroscience, with an emphasis on explanatory modeling towards understanding neurocognitive mechanisms at the computational level. We encourage projects that:
    • Establish collaborative teams with complementary expertise in computational and experimental research
    • Support computational training at all career stages
    • Apply explanatory modeling methods to new and existing data towards explaining mechanisms related to SUD
  • Bidirectional translation, with an emphasis on basic research that is informed by the clinical condition and seeks to develop novel preventative and therapeutic targets at the level of circuits, brain networks, cognitive constructs, and/or behavior. We encourage projects that emphasize:
    • Animal modeling informed by cognitive psychology, anthropology, sociology, and/or developmental psychology
    • A more complete understanding of the behavioral and neurobiological effects of non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS, tDCS, tACS, etc.) to new identified targets, leading to stronger mechanistic understanding of SUD and its treatment
  • Studying brain and behavior within the broader socioenvironmental context, including projects seeking to understand:
    • Socioenvironmental influences (e.g., childhood trauma, economic and food instability, environmental insults) on the substance use trajectory
    • Social cognition (e.g., understanding processes that are involved in perceiving, remembering, thinking about, and attending to others in our social environment)
    • Complex morbidity and transdiagnostic risk involving SUD and other psychiatric disorders
  • Understanding risk for and protection against SUD across the lifespan, with an emphasis on:
    • Bidirectional transmission of risk for or protection from substance use outcomes in caregivers and adverse neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and clinical outcomes in child (e.g., early modifiable indicators of later risk, protective factors against later adverse outcomes)
    • Generation and analyses of large, heterogenous samples that incorporate multivariate characterization of neurocognition, substance use, and quality of life

Across all themes, we encourage adoption of the following approaches:

  • Sophisticated computational/statistical analytical approaches towards analyses of neural circuitry, cognition, and behavior
  • Engagement of teams that incorporate perspectives and team science approaches, as needed, from neuroscience, psychology, sociology, computer science, anthropology, ethicists, and community stakeholders

For more information on relevant funding opportunities, please see the “Active Funding Opportunities” section below.

Active Funding Opportunities:

  • Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Mentored Career Development Award in Large-Scale Clinical Study Development and Analysis
    NOT-DA-20-006 (K08,K23,K25,K01,K99/R00)
  • Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Harnessing computational tools for sophisticated analyses of Substance Use Disorder-related behaviors
    NOT-DA-20-017 (R01,R03,R21)
  • Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Mechanistic Investigations of Psychosocial Factors Associated with Substance Use Disorders
    NOT-DA-20-005 (R01,R21)

National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (NACDA) Approved Concepts

A concept describes the purpose, scope, and objectives of a potential funding opportunity. Concepts are posted to give interested researchers additional time to plan for application submissions. Approved concepts are usually developed into Requests For Applications (RFAs), Program Announcements that include set-aside funds (PASs), or Program Announcements with special receipt, referral and/or review considerations (PARs). The NACDA conducts most, but not all, NIDA concept clearances. Concepts may also be cleared through other public venues.