scholarly journals Impaired empathy and increased anger following social exclusion in non-intoxicated opioid users

2019 ◽  
Vol 237 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-430
Author(s):  
Molly Carlyle ◽  
Megan Rowley ◽  
Tobias Stevens ◽  
Anke Karl ◽  
Celia J. A. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Social Functioning ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Endogenous Opioid System ◽  
Endogenous Opioid ◽  
Opioid Users

Abstract Rationale Social functioning is modulated by the endogenous opioid system. In opioid use disorder, social functioning appears disrupted, but little research has delineated the nature of these deficits and their relationship to acute opioid use. Objectives The current study aimed to assess both emotional and cognitive empathy, along with subjective and physiological responses to social exclusion in opioid users who were either acutely intoxicated or non-intoxicated from using opioids. Methods Individuals on an opioid substitution medication (OSM) were divided into ‘intoxicated users’ (had taken their OSM the same day as testing, n = 20) and ‘non-intoxicated users’ (had taken their OSM > 12 h ago, n = 20) and compared with opioid-naïve controls (n = 24). Empathy was assessed using the multifaceted empathy test and self-report questionnaire. Participants also underwent a period of social exclusion (Cyberball Game) and completed measures of mood and physiological responses (salivary cortisol and heart rate). Results Non-intoxicated users had significantly lower emotional empathy (the ability to experience others’ emotions), as well as greater anger after social exclusion when compared with the intoxicated users and controls. Anger did not change with social exclusion in the intoxicated user group and cortisol levels were lower overall. Conclusions Reduced ability to spontaneously share the emotions of others was reported in non-intoxicated users, particularly regarding positive emotions. There was some support for the idea of hyperalgesia to social pain, but this was restricted to an enhanced anger response in non-intoxicated users. Equivalent rates of empathy between the intoxicated users and controls could indicate some remediating effects of acute opioids.

scholarly journals Vagal Tone Differences in Empathy Level Elicited by Different Emotions and a Co-Viewer

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 3136
Author(s):  
Suhhee Yoo ◽  
Mincheol Whang
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Vagal Tone ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Affective Empathy ◽  
Emotional Intensity ◽  
Factor Level ◽  
Positive Valence ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Different Levels

Empathy can bring different benefits depending on what kind of emotions people empathize with. For example, empathy with negative emotions can raise donations to charity while empathy with positive emotions can increase participation during remote education. However, few studies have focused on the physiological differences depending on what kind of emotions people empathize with. Furthermore, co-viewer can influence the elicitation of different levels of empathy, but this has been less discussed. Therefore, this study investigated vagal response differences according to each empathy factor level elicited by different emotions and co-viewer. Fifty-nine participants were asked to watch 4 videos and to evaluate subjective valence, arousal scores, and undertake an empathy questionnaire, which included cognitive, affective and identification empathy. Half of the participants watched the videos alone and the other half watched the videos with a co-viewer. Valence and arousal scores were categorized into three levels to figure out what kind of emotions they empathized with. Empathy level (high vs. low) was determined based on the self-report scores. Two-way MANOVA revealed an interaction effect of empathy level and emotions. High affective empathy level is associated with higher vagal response regardless of what kind of emotions they empathized with. However, vagal response differences in other empathy factor level showed a different pattern depending on what kind of emotions that participant empathized with. A high cognitive empathy level showed lower vagal responses when participants felt negative or positive valence. High identification level also showed increased cognitive burden when participants empathized with negative and neutral valence. The results implied that emotions and types of empathy should be considered when measuring empathic responses using vagal tone. Two-way MANOVA revealed empathic response differences between co-viewer condition and emotion. Participants with a co-viewer felt higher vagal responses and self-reporting empathy scores only when participants empathized with arousal. This implied that the effect of a co-viewer may impact on empathic responses only when participants felt higher emotional intensity.

scholarly journals Greater empathy in MDMA users

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Carlyle ◽  
Tobias Stevens ◽  
Leah Fawaz ◽  
Beth Marsh ◽  
Sophia Kosmider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Social Pain ◽  
Emotional Empathy ◽  
Long Term Impact

Background: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is widely known for its positive acute effects on social behaviour, such as increasing empathy, whilst also attenuating the negative impact of social exclusion. However there is a scarcity of research that investigates the long-term impact of recreational MDMA use on these fundamental social processes. Method: Sixty-seven individuals were split into three groups based on their drug-use history: poly-drug MDMA users ( n = 25), poly-drug users who do not use MDMA ( n = 19), alcohol-only users ( n = 23), and were tested in an independent groups design. Participants completed both a self-report measure of emotional and cognitive empathy, along with the Multifaceted Empathy Task – a computerised assessment of empathy – and the Cyberball Game – a social exclusion paradigm. Results: MDMA users had significantly greater subjective emotional empathy, and greater cognitive empathy on the computer task compared with the poly-drug users who do not use MDMA. There were no significant differences in subjective responses to social exclusion between the groups. Indices of MDMA use did not correlate with empathy. Conclusions: Long-term MDMA users in this sample exhibited normal psychosocial functioning in regard to empathy and social pain and had higher subjective emotional empathy. This conflicts with previous suggestions that moderate, long-term MDMA use may cause heightened social distress, and is further evidence of the safety of the drug, which is relevant to considerations of its therapeutic use.

scholarly journals Biased signaling by endogenous opioid peptides

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (21) ◽  
pp. 11820-11828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivone Gomes ◽  
Salvador Sierra ◽  
Lindsay Lueptow ◽  
Achla Gupta ◽  
Shawn Gouty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Opioid Receptors ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Receptor Activity ◽  
Prolonged Treatment ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Endogenous Opioid System ◽  
Endogenous Opioid ◽  
Biased Signaling ◽  
Brain Slice Preparation

Opioids, such as morphine and fentanyl, are widely used for the treatment of severe pain; however, prolonged treatment with these drugs leads to the development of tolerance and can lead to opioid use disorder. The “Opioid Epidemic” has generated a drive for a deeper understanding of the fundamental signaling mechanisms of opioid receptors. It is generally thought that the three types of opioid receptors (μ, δ, κ) are activated by endogenous peptides derived from three different precursors: Proopiomelanocortin, proenkephalin, and prodynorphin. Posttranslational processing of these precursors generates >20 peptides with opioid receptor activity, leading to a long-standing question of the significance of this repertoire of peptides. Here, we address some aspects of this question using a technical tour de force approach to systematically evaluate ligand binding and signaling properties ([35S]GTPγS binding and β-arrestin recruitment) of 22 peptides at each of the three opioid receptors. We show that nearly all tested peptides are able to activate the three opioid receptors, and many of them exhibit agonist-directed receptor signaling (functional selectivity). Our data also challenge the dogma that shorter forms of β-endorphin do not exhibit receptor activity; we show that they exhibit robust signaling in cultured cells and in an acute brain slice preparation. Collectively, this information lays the groundwork for improved understanding of the endogenous opioid system that will help in developing more effective treatments for pain and addiction.

Stress activates pronociceptive endogenous opioid signalling in DRG neurons during chronic colitis

Gut ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 2121-2131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Guerrero-Alba ◽  
Eduardo E Valdez-Morales ◽  
Nestor N Jimenez-Vargas ◽  
Cintya Lopez-Lopez ◽  
Josue Jaramillo-Polanco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Endogenous Opioids ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Chronic Colitis ◽  
Drg Neurons ◽  
Endogenous Opioid System ◽  
Endogenous Opioid ◽  
Stress Changes

Aims and backgroundPsychological stress accompanies chronic inflammatory diseases such as IBD, and stress hormones can exacerbate pain signalling. In contrast, the endogenous opioid system has an important analgesic action during chronic inflammation. This study examined the interaction of these pathways.MethodsMouse nociceptive dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons were incubated with supernatants from segments of inflamed colon collected from patients with chronic UC and mice with dextran sodium sulfate (cDSS)-induced chronic colitis. Stress effects were studied by adding stress hormones (epinephrine and corticosterone) to dissociated neurons or by exposing cDSS mice to water avoidance stress. Changes in excitability of colonic DRG nociceptors were measured using patch clamp and Ca2+imaging techniques.ResultsSupernatants from patients with chronic UC and from colons of mice with chronic colitis caused a naloxone-sensitive inhibition of neuronal excitability and capsaicin-evoked Ca2+responses. Stress hormones decreased signalling induced by human and mouse supernatants. This effect resulted from stress hormones signalling directly to DRG neurons and indirectly through signalling to the immune system, leading to decreased opioid levels and increased acute inflammation. The net effect of stress was a change endogenous opioid signalling in DRG neurons from an inhibitory to an excitatory effect. This switch was associated with a change in G protein-coupled receptor excitatory signalling to a pathway sensitive to inhibitors of protein kinase A-protein, phospholipase C-protein and G protein βϒ subunits.ConclusionsStress hormones block the inhibitory actions of endogenous opioids and can change the effect of opioid signalling in DRG neurons to excitation. Targeting these pathways may prevent heavy opioid use in IBD.

scholarly journals Neuropsychological Functions of μ- and δ-Opioid Systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna G. Polunina ◽  
Evgeny A. Bryun
Keyword(s):  
Drug Addiction ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Stress Reactions ◽  
Endogenous Opioid System ◽  
Endogenous Opioid ◽  
Approach Behavior ◽  
Stress Control ◽  
Neuropsychological Functions ◽  
Behavior Network

Brain opioid innervation is involved in many pathophysiological processes related to drug addiction. The main idea of the present review is that μ-/δ-opioid innervation is an intrinsic component of the motor/approach behavior network, which is activated synergetically with dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic network. Contribution of opioid innervation to the motor/approach behavior processing includes generation of positive emotions and inhibition of pain and stress reactions in order that the individual would be able to reach the vital goal. We cite the neuroanatomical data which showed that motor subcortical nuclei contain the most abundant opioid innervation and its activation is an obligatory component of positive emotions. In the majority of life situations, motor/approach behavior network concomitantly activates pain/stress control opioid network. Intensive cognitive activity induces activation of opioid innervation as well, and both enhancing and impairing effects of opioid agonists on cognitive functioning were demonstrated. Overall, the functioning of endogenous opioid networks may be summarized as following: NO physical/cognitive activity = NO positive emotions plus NO pain/stress control. We suppose that contemporary findings concerning neuropsychological functions of endogenous opioid system explain many controversial issues in neuropsychiatric conditions predisposing to drug addiction and neurological mechanisms of opioid addiction.

The placenta as a target of opioid drugs

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl S Rosenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Congenital Defects ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Endogenous Opioid System ◽  
Endogenous Opioid ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Opioid Drugs ◽  
Hospital Stays ◽  
Control Pain ◽  
Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome

Abstract Opioid drugs are analgesics increasingly being prescribed to control pain associated with a wide range of causes. Usage of pregnant women has dramatically increased in the past decades. Neonates born to these women are at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS, also referred termed neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, NOWS). Negative birth outcomes linked with maternal opioid use disorder include compromised fetal growth, premature birth, reduced birthweight, and congenital defects. Such infants require lengthier hospital stays necessitating rising health care costs, and they are at greater risk for neurobehavioral and other diseases. Thus, it is essential to understand the genesis of such disorders. As the primary communication organ between mother and conceptus, the placenta itself is susceptible to opioid effects but may be key to understanding how these drugs affect long-term offspring health and how poor health outcomes may be ameliorated in utero. In this review, we will consider the evidence that placental responses are regulated through an endogenous opioid system. However, maternal consumption of opioid drugs can also bind and act through opioid receptors express by trophoblast (TB) cells of the placenta. Thus, we will also discuss the current human and rodent studies that have examined the effects of opioids on the placenta. These drugs might affect placental hormones associated with maternal recognition of pregnancy, including placental lactogens and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in rodents and humans, respectively. A further understanding of how such drugs affect the placenta may open up new avenues for early diagnosis and remediation approaches.

Cognitive empathy contributes to poor social functioning in schizophrenia: Evidence from a new self-report measure of cognitive and affective empathy

2014 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 803-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania M. Michaels ◽  
William P. Horan ◽  
Emily J. Ginger ◽  
Zoran Martinovich ◽  
Amy E. Pinkham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Affective Empathy ◽  
Report Measure

The Mediating Effect of Language on the Development of Cognitive and Affective Theory of Mind

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicity J Bigelow ◽  
Gillian M Clark ◽  
Jarrad Lum ◽  
Peter Gregory Enticott
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Language Assessments ◽  
Empathic Ability ◽  
The Relationship

Theory of mind (ToM) development is critical to effective social functioning and appears to depend on complementary language abilities. The current study explored the mediating influence of language on the development of cognitive and affective ToM. 151 children aged between 5-12 years completed ToM (cognitive and affective) and language assessments, and parents provided ratings of their child’s empathic ability. Results showed that language mediated the relationship between age and both cognitive and affective ToM, but not parent-reported cognitive empathy. Examination of younger and older subgroups revealed that language mediated cognitive and affective ToM differently across developmental periods. Findings highlight the dynamic role that language plays in the development of both cognitive and affective ToM throughout early and middle childhood.

MODULATION BY CCK-B RECEPTORS OF THE ANTINOCICEPTIVE AND REWARDING PROPERTIES INDUCED BY THE ENDOGENOUS OPIOID SYSTEM

Analgesia ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 809-812
Author(s):  
O. Valverde ◽  
M.-C. Fournié-Zaluski ◽  
B. P. Roques ◽  
R. Maldonado
Keyword(s):  
Opioid System ◽  
Endogenous Opioid System ◽  
Endogenous Opioid
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