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A mesocorticolimbic signature of pleasure in the human brain

Author

Listed:
  • Philip A. Kragel

    (Emory University
    Emory University)

  • Michael T. Treadway

    (Emory University
    Emory University)

  • Roee Admon

    (Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital
    University of Haifa)

  • Diego A. Pizzagalli

    (Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital)

  • Evan C. Hahn

    (Emory University)

Abstract

Pleasure is a fundamental driver of human behaviour, yet its neural basis remains largely unknown. Rodent studies highlight opioidergic neural circuits connecting the nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, insula and orbitofrontal cortex as critical for the initiation and regulation of pleasure, and human neuroimaging studies exhibit some translational parity. However, whether activation in these regions conveys a generalizable representation of pleasure regulated by opioidergic mechanisms remains unclear. Here we use pattern recognition techniques to develop a human functional magnetic resonance imaging signature of mesocorticolimbic activity unique to states of pleasure. In independent validation tests, this signature is sensitive to pleasant tastes and affect evoked by humour. The signature is spatially co-extensive with mu-opioid receptor gene expression, and its response is attenuated by the opioid antagonist naloxone. These findings provide evidence for a basis of pleasure in humans that is distributed across brain systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip A. Kragel & Michael T. Treadway & Roee Admon & Diego A. Pizzagalli & Evan C. Hahn, 2023. "A mesocorticolimbic signature of pleasure in the human brain," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(8), pages 1332-1343, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:7:y:2023:i:8:d:10.1038_s41562-023-01639-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01639-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiqin Liu & Guojuan Jiao & Feng Zhou & Keith M. Kendrick & Dezhong Yao & Qiyong Gong & Shitong Xiang & Tianye Jia & Xiao-Yong Zhang & Jie Zhang & Jianfeng Feng & Benjamin Becker, 2024. "A neural signature for the subjective experience of threat anticipation under uncertainty," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.

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