Blocking opioids attenuates physical warmth-induced feelings of social connection.

TitleBlocking opioids attenuates physical warmth-induced feelings of social connection.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsInagaki TK, Irwin MR, Eisenberger NI
JournalEmotion
Volume15
Issue4
Pagination494-500
Date Published2015 Aug
ISSN1931-1516
KeywordsAdolescent, Adult, Body Temperature, Emotions, Female, Hot Temperature, Humans, Male, Naltrexone, Narcotic Antagonists, Object Attachment, Opioid Peptides, Receptors, Opioid, Social Behavior, Young Adult
Abstract

"Heartwarming" social experiences, when one feels interpersonally connected to others, have recently been linked with physical warmth. According to one theory (Panksepp, 1998), "social warmth" and physical warmth may be closely linked because both experiences are supported by similar neurobiological mechanisms; however, the neurochemical substrates underlying this overlap have not been explored. Here, an opioid antagonist, naltrexone, was administered in order to examine the role of opioids, previously shown to alter temperature and social bonding behavior, on perceived thermal intensity, general positive affect, and feelings of social connection from physical warmth. Thirty-one participants took both naltrexone and a placebo and completed a temperature manipulation task (held a warm pack, cold pack, and neutral object) while on each drug. Replicating previous research, holding a warm (vs. a cold or neutral) object increased feelings of social connection. Moreover, blocking opioids reduced this effect. Hence, naltrexone specifically reduced feelings of social connection to holding a warm (vs. neutral) object but not to holding a cold (vs. neutral) object. These results lend further support to the theory that social and physical warmth share neurobiological, opioid receptor dependent mechanisms.

DOI10.1037/emo0000088
Alternate JournalEmotion
PubMed ID26098729
PubMed Central IDPMC4516568
Grant ListP30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30-AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG034588 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA119159 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA160245 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 DA032922 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
R01 DA032922-01 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL095799 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL095799 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01-AG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01-AG034588 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01-CA119159 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01CA160245-01 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
UL1TR000124 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States