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Response of the μ-opioid system to social rejection and acceptance

D T Hsu1, B J Sanford, K K Meyers

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, The Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Molecular Psychiatry
|August 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The human opioid system regulates social pain and reward. Social rejection activates the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) system, while acceptance shows varied MOR activity, influencing social interaction and emotional well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Social Psychology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • The endogenous opioid system modulates physical pain and is implicated in social distress and reward behaviors in animal models.
  • Understanding the role of the endogenous opioid system in human social experiences is crucial for mental health research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo changes in μ-opioid receptor (MOR) availability in the human brain during social rejection and acceptance.
  • To explore the relationship between MOR system activation, trait resiliency, and emotional affect during social interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized positron emission tomography (PET) with a MOR radiotracer to measure receptor availability in 18 human participants.
  • Assessed changes in MOR availability during controlled social rejection and social acceptance paradigms.
  • Correlated MOR system activation with measures of trait resiliency and negative affect.

Main Results:

  • Social rejection significantly activated the MOR system in key brain regions including the ventral striatum, amygdala, midline thalamus, and periaqueductal gray (PAG).
  • Greater trait resiliency correlated with increased MOR activation in the amygdala, PAG, and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) during rejection.
  • Social acceptance led to MOR activation in the amygdala and anterior insula, and deactivation in the midline thalamus and sgACC, with ventral striatal MOR activation predicting increased desire for social interaction.

Conclusions:

  • The endogenous opioid system, through MOR regulation, plays a significant role in processing social pain and reward in humans.
  • MOR system activation in specific brain pathways appears to be adaptive, potentially protecting against negative social experiences and promoting social engagement.
  • Targeting the MOR system may offer therapeutic potential for conditions characterized by social deficits and emotional dysregulation.

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