Baseline reward circuitry activity and trait reward responsiveness predict expression of opioid analgesia in healthy subjects

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1120201109
• Publication Date: 2012-10-09T04:26:58Z
• Authors: Vishvarani Waniga...; Michael C. Lee; Richard Rogers; Yazhuo Kong; Siri Leknes; Jesper Andersson; Irene Tracey
• Keywords: Brain stimulation reward; μ-opioid receptor; Periaqueductal gray; Endogenous opioid; Rostral ventromedial medulla; Ventral striatum; Premovement neuronal activity

Variability in opioid analgesia has been attributed to many factors. For example, genetic variability of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR)-encoding gene introduces MOR function and endogenous neurotransmission. Emerging evidence suggests that personality trait related experience reward is linked We hypothesized opioid-induced behavioral would be predicted by responsiveness (RWR) response brain circuitry noxious stimuli at baseline before administration. In healthy volunteers using functional magnetic resonance imaging agonist remifentanil, we found magnitude positively correlated with RWR neuronal painful infusion key structures circuitry, such as orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area. These findings highlight role expression analgesia. also show a positive correlation between suppression responses descending pain modulatory system (amygdala, periaqueductal gray, rostral–ventromedial medulla), well hippocampus. Further, these activity changes were preinfusion period within tegmentum. results support notion future imaging-based subject-stratification paradigms can guide therapeutic decisions.