TY - JOUR
T1 - Social touch modulates endogenous μ-opioid system activity in humans
AU - Nummenmaa, Lauri
AU - Tuominen, Lauri
AU - Dunbar, Robin
AU - Hirvonen, Jussi
AU - Manninen, Sandra
AU - Arponen, Eveliina
AU - Machin, Anna
AU - Hari, Riitta
AU - Jääskeläinen, Iiro P.
AU - Sams, Mikko
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - In non-human primates, opioid-receptor blockade increases social grooming, and the endogenous opioid system has therefore been hypothesized to support maintenance of long-term relationships in humans as well. Here we tested whether social touch modulates opioidergic activation in humans using in vivo positron emission tomography (PET). Eighteen male participants underwent two PET scans with [11C]carfentanil, a ligand specific to μ-opioid receptors (MOR). During the social touch scan, the participants lay in the scanner while their partners caressed their bodies in a non-sexual fashion. In the baseline scan, participants lay alone in the scanner. Social touch triggered pleasurable sensations and increased MOR availability in the thalamus, striatum, and frontal, cingulate, and insular cortices. Modulation of activity of the opioid system by social touching might provide a neurochemical mechanism reinforcing social bonds between humans.
AB - In non-human primates, opioid-receptor blockade increases social grooming, and the endogenous opioid system has therefore been hypothesized to support maintenance of long-term relationships in humans as well. Here we tested whether social touch modulates opioidergic activation in humans using in vivo positron emission tomography (PET). Eighteen male participants underwent two PET scans with [11C]carfentanil, a ligand specific to μ-opioid receptors (MOR). During the social touch scan, the participants lay in the scanner while their partners caressed their bodies in a non-sexual fashion. In the baseline scan, participants lay alone in the scanner. Social touch triggered pleasurable sensations and increased MOR availability in the thalamus, striatum, and frontal, cingulate, and insular cortices. Modulation of activity of the opioid system by social touching might provide a neurochemical mechanism reinforcing social bonds between humans.
KW - Bonding
KW - Opioids
KW - PET
KW - Somatosensory
KW - Touching
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84975883874&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.05.063
DO - 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.05.063
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84975883874
SN - 1053-8119
VL - 138
SP - 242
EP - 247
JO - NeuroImage
JF - NeuroImage
ER -