Trustees of Dartmouth College
The current study probes the involvement of the opioid system in placebo effects on social pain, using the opioid antagonist naloxone. 60 participants who recently experienced an unwanted breakup will experience rejection-related stimuli and receive painful heat and pressure stimuli during fMRI scanning. Participants will be randomized to receive either a naloxone or saline nasal spray, and be informed that the spray is either saline, or an effective pain and negative emotion reducing agent.
Background: Loss of close relationships is one of the most aversive life events. An unwanted romantic breakup leads to a 20% risk of developing depression within a month, a dramatic increase in depression risk. The investigators recently identified brain pathways mediating placebo effects on physical heat pain and the social pain associated with an unwanted breakup, including common involvement of dlPFC-PAG pathways and vmPFC. Other recent studies have identified rejection-related opioidergic activity in these circuits that may reflect endogenous regulatory mechanisms. This experiment probes…
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18-55 years * No current psychiatric or major neurological diagnosis * No reported substance abuse within the last six months * Are capable of performing experimental tasks (e.g., are able to read, able to cooperate with fMRI examination) * Are fluent or native speakers of English * No current or recent history of pathological pain or reported neurological disorders. * Having abstained from alcohol and substance use for 48 hours * Passed fMRI safety screener * Experienced a recent unwanted breakup of a romantic relationship Exclusion Criteria: * Current pre…
Participants will be informed that the spray is an effective pain and negative emotion reducing agent.
Participants will be informed that the spray is saline.
Participants will be informed that the spray is an effective pain and negative emotion reducing agent.
Participants will be informed that the spray is saline.
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