Improved memory for reward cues following acute buprenorphine administration in humans

Supriya Syal, Jonathan Ipser, David Terburg, Mark Solms, Jaak Panksepp, Susan Malcolm-Smith, Peter A. Bos, Estrella R. Montoya, Dan J. Stein, Jack van Honk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

In rodents, there is abundant evidence for the involvement of the opioid system in the processing of reward cues, but this system has remained understudied in humans. In humans, the happy facial expression is a pivotal reward cue. Happy facial expressions activate the brain's reward system and are disregarded by subjects scoring high on depressive mood who are low in reward drive. We investigated whether a single 0.2. mg administration of the mixed mu-opioid agonist/kappa-antagonist, buprenorphine, would influence short-term memory for happy, angry or fearful expressions relative to neutral faces. Healthy human subjects (n38) participated in a randomized placebo-controlled within-subject design, and performed an emotional face relocation task after administration of buprenorphine and placebo. We show that, compared to placebo, buprenorphine administration results in a significant improvement of memory for happy faces. Our data demonstrate that acute manipulation of the opioid system by buprenorphine increases short-term memory for social reward cues.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10-15
Number of pages6
JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology
Volume53
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Happy facial expression
  • Opioids
  • Reward
  • Short term memory

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