Evidence for endogenous opioid release in the amygdala during positive emotion

M. J. Koepp; A. Hammers; A. D. Lawrence; M. C. Asselin; P. M. Grasby; C. J. Bench

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.08.032

Evidence for endogenous opioid release in the amygdala during positive emotion

M. J. Koepp^*, A. Hammers, A. D. Lawrence, M. C. Asselin, P. M. Grasby, C. J. Bench

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Endogenous opioid release has been linked to relief from aversive emotional memories, thereby promoting a euphoric state and subsequent interactions towards social stimuli resulting in the formation of social preferences. However, this theory remains controversial. Using positron emission tomography and [¹¹C]diprenorphine (DPN) in healthy volunteers, we found significantly reduced DPN binding to opioid receptor in the hippocampus during positive mood induction compared to neutral mood. Furthermore, the magnitude of positive mood change correlated negatively with DPN binding in the amygdala bilaterally. Our finding of reduced DPN binding is consistent with increased release of endogenous opioids, providing direct evidence that localised release of endogenous opioids is involved in the regulation of positive emotion in humans.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	252-256
Number of pages	5
Journal	NeuroImage
Volume	44
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.08.032
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Drs E. Rabiner, R.A. Bantick, and N. Calvo for help with data acquisition and Drs V. Cunningham, R. Gunn and F.E. Turkheimer for help with data analysis and revising earlier drafts of the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the “Theodore and Vada Stanley Foundation Research Program” (MJK), the Medical Research Council (ADL, AH and PMG), and the Royal Society (ADL).

Keywords

Amygdala
Emotions
Mood induction
Opioid peptides
PET

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10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.08.032

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title = "Evidence for endogenous opioid release in the amygdala during positive emotion",

abstract = "Endogenous opioid release has been linked to relief from aversive emotional memories, thereby promoting a euphoric state and subsequent interactions towards social stimuli resulting in the formation of social preferences. However, this theory remains controversial. Using positron emission tomography and [11C]diprenorphine (DPN) in healthy volunteers, we found significantly reduced DPN binding to opioid receptor in the hippocampus during positive mood induction compared to neutral mood. Furthermore, the magnitude of positive mood change correlated negatively with DPN binding in the amygdala bilaterally. Our finding of reduced DPN binding is consistent with increased release of endogenous opioids, providing direct evidence that localised release of endogenous opioids is involved in the regulation of positive emotion in humans.",

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AU - Lawrence, A. D.

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AU - Grasby, P. M.

AU - Bench, C. J.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Drs E. Rabiner, R.A. Bantick, and N. Calvo for help with data acquisition and Drs V. Cunningham, R. Gunn and F.E. Turkheimer for help with data analysis and revising earlier drafts of the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the “Theodore and Vada Stanley Foundation Research Program” (MJK), the Medical Research Council (ADL, AH and PMG), and the Royal Society (ADL).

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AB - Endogenous opioid release has been linked to relief from aversive emotional memories, thereby promoting a euphoric state and subsequent interactions towards social stimuli resulting in the formation of social preferences. However, this theory remains controversial. Using positron emission tomography and [11C]diprenorphine (DPN) in healthy volunteers, we found significantly reduced DPN binding to opioid receptor in the hippocampus during positive mood induction compared to neutral mood. Furthermore, the magnitude of positive mood change correlated negatively with DPN binding in the amygdala bilaterally. Our finding of reduced DPN binding is consistent with increased release of endogenous opioids, providing direct evidence that localised release of endogenous opioids is involved in the regulation of positive emotion in humans.

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Evidence for endogenous opioid release in the amygdala during positive emotion

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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