Pleasure-Related Analgesia Activates Opioid-Insensitive Circuits
OPEN ACCESS
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2011-03-16
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Rights / License
Abstract
Recent findings suggest that pain and pleasure share common neurochemical circuits, and studies in animals and humans show that opioid-mediated descending pathways can inhibit or facilitate pain. We explored the role of endogenous opioid neurotransmission in pleasure-related analgesia. μ-Opioidergic activity was blocked with 0.2 mg/kg naloxone to assess its effects on hedonic responses to pleasant emotional pictures (International Affective Picture System) and its modulating effects on heat pain tolerance. Naloxone did not alter subjective and autonomous reactions to pleasure induction or overall mood of participants. In addition, pleasure-related increases in pain tolerance persisted after reversal of endogenous μ-opioidergic neurotransmission. Subjective pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings increased after naloxone administration. These findings suggest that, in addition to opioid-sensitive circuits, mainly opioid-insensitive pain-modulating circuits are activated during pleasure-related analgesia.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
31 (11)
Pages / Article No.
4148 - 4153
Publisher
Society for Neuroscience
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Organisational unit
02803 - Collegium Helveticum / Collegium Helveticum
03325 - Folkers, Gerd (emeritus)