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Advances in Neurobiology 2024Pleasant emotions take a variety of forms and are a key part of the human experience. Although negative emotions have often been a focus of research, positive emotions,...
Pleasant emotions take a variety of forms and are a key part of the human experience. Although negative emotions have often been a focus of research, positive emotions, e.g., joy, pleasure, and love, have recently gained more attention. Each of these emotions is rich and complex in its own right. However, positive emotions appear to serve key evolutionary functions, which are mediated by complex biological substrates. This chapter summarizes key research and explores the biological underpinnings of positive emotions, with an emphasis on the roles that endogenous opioids play in the experience, expression, and development of positive emotions. The necessity of emphasizing positive emotions in research is also discussed.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Brain; Emotions; Opioid Peptides; Pleasure; Receptors, Opioid
PubMed: 38874726
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-45493-6_12 -
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair Jun 2024Actual and imagined cued gait trainings have not been compared in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
BACKGROUND
Actual and imagined cued gait trainings have not been compared in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the effects of cued motor imagery (CMI), cued gait training (CGT), and combined CMI and cued gait training (CMI-CGT) on motor, cognitive, and emotional functioning, and health-related quality of life in people with MS.
METHODS
In this double-blind randomized parallel-group multicenter trial, people with MS were randomized (1:1:1) to CMI, CMI-CGT, or CGT for 30 minutes, 4×/week for 4 weeks. Patients practiced at home, using recorded instructions, and supported by ≥6 phone calls. Data were collected at weeks 0, 4, and 13. Co-primary outcomes were walking speed and distance, analyzed by intention-to-treat. Secondary outcomes were global cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, suicidality, fatigue, HRQoL, motor imagery ability, music-induced motivation, pleasure and arousal, self-efficacy, and cognitive function. Adverse events and falls were continuously monitored.
RESULTS
Of 1559 screened patients, 132 were randomized: 44 to CMI, 44 to CMI-CGT, and 44 to CGT. None of the interventions demonstrated superiority in influencing walking speed or distance, with negligible effects on walking speed (η = 0.019) and distance (η = 0.005) observed in the between-group comparison. Improvements in walking speed and walking distance over time corresponded to large effects for CMI, CMI-CGT, and CGT (η = 0.348 and η = 0.454 respectively). No severe study-related adverse events were reported.
CONCLUSIONS
CMI-GT did not lead to improved walking speed and distance compared with CMI and CGT alone in people with MS. Lack of a true control group represents a study limitation.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00023978.
PubMed: 38873806
DOI: 10.1177/15459683241260724 -
Frontiers in Neural Circuits 2024Olfactory dysfunctions decrease daily quality of life (QOL) in part by reducing the pleasure of eating. Olfaction plays an essential role in flavor sensation and... (Review)
Review
Olfactory dysfunctions decrease daily quality of life (QOL) in part by reducing the pleasure of eating. Olfaction plays an essential role in flavor sensation and palatability. The decreased QOL due to olfactory dysfunction is speculated to result from abnormal neural activities in the olfactory and limbic areas of the brain, as well as peripheral odorant receptor dysfunctions. However, the specific underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. As the olfactory tubercle (OT) is one of the brain's regions with high expression of endogenous opioids, we hypothesize that the mechanism underlying the decrease in QOL due to olfactory dysfunction involves the reduction of neural activity in the OT and subsequent endogenous opioid release in specialized subregions. In this review, we provide an overview and recent updates on the OT, the endogenous opioid system, and the pleasure systems in the brain and then discuss our hypothesis. To facilitate the effective treatment of olfactory dysfunctions and decreased QOL, elucidation of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the pleasure of eating through flavor sensation is crucial.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Animals; Smell; Opioid Peptides; Olfactory Tubercle; Olfaction Disorders
PubMed: 38872907
DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1408189 -
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors :... Jun 2024This study assessed the ecological validity of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS 2.0) with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and explored the internal consistency...
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the ecological validity of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS 2.0) with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and explored the internal consistency and convergent validity of a momentary food addiction scale.
METHOD
Adults ( = 49) who met criteria for binge-eating disorder and/or food addiction (age = 34.9 ± 12.1 years; 77.1% cisgender female; 55.1% non-Hispanic White) completed online questionnaires and a 10-day EMA protocol. Analyses examined (a) associations between the YFAS 2.0 and EMA-measured variables corresponding to food addiction criteria, (b) reliability of a momentary food addiction scale (EMA-FA), and (c) concurrent associations between EMA-FA and EMA-measured negative affect, impulsivity, eating expectancies, body satisfaction, consumption of palatable food, and taste response to palatable food.
RESULTS
YFAS scores were associated with EMA-reported variables corresponding to food addiction criteria (s < .045). The multilevel reliability for EMA-FA was adequate (ω = .75-.94). Individuals with higher EMA-FA scores reported greater negative affect, impulsivity, appetite, palatable food consumption, taste response to palatable food, and contrary to expectations, greater body satisfaction (s < .01). Within-person effects emerged for EMA-FA predicting higher negative affect, impulsivity, likelihood of palatable food consumption, more pleasurable taste responses after consuming palatable foods, yet lower body satisfaction, appetite, and eating expectancies (s < .01).
CONCLUSIONS
Results support the ecological validity of the YFAS 2.0, and additional evidence of convergent validity and internal consistency was demonstrated for a momentary food addiction scale. This assessment of the psychometric properties of the YFAS will ultimately further its utility and relevance in the study and diagnosis of food addiction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
PubMed: 38869863
DOI: 10.1037/adb0001014 -
PloS One 2024Fans may experience significant upset and distress when a television series ends. However, grief and loss reactions to the end of a fictional series have seldom been...
Fans may experience significant upset and distress when a television series ends. However, grief and loss reactions to the end of a fictional series have seldom been investigated. It is likely that the degree to which such reactions are felt is influenced by viewing motives (e.g., pleasure, meaning making), connection to the series and its fan community, relationships formed with characters, including parasocial bonds and experiences of empathy, and tendency to engage with others' perspectives and emotions, including fictional characters. The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of fans' grief and loss reactions to the end of the television series Neighbours, which aired from 1985 to 2022. Fans (n = 1289) completed an online survey shortly after the screening of the final episode. The survey measured grief emotions and cognitions, acceptance that the series had ended, distress at the loss of a parasocial relationship with a favourite character, feelings of closure, and expressions of gratitude for the series. Predictors of these grief and loss reactions examined in the survey were viewing motives, fan identity, strength of a parasocial relationship formed with a favourite character, empathy towards that character, and tendency to take others' perspectives, experience empathic concern and personal distress, and tendency towards engagement with fictional characters. Greater grief and loss reactions were experienced by fans whose motives for watching involved being entertained and exposed to different lifestyles, who felt a stronger fan connection to the series, and who formed stronger parasocial empathic relationships with their favourite character. Factors such as gender, age, and empathic tendencies predicted various types of grief reactions. Understanding fan experiences when a long-running series ends advances theory and research on viewer parasocial relationships and engagement with media, as well as providing evidence that the loss of a series or favourite character can be viewed as a type of grief experience.
Topics: Humans; Grief; Female; Male; Television; Adult; Emotions; Empathy; Middle Aged; Friends; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Motivation; Aged
PubMed: 38865303
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302160 -
Biological Research For Nursing Jun 2024The purpose of this study was to explore whether prenatal gut microbiota (GM) and its functions predict the development of offspring temperament. A total of 53 mothers...
The purpose of this study was to explore whether prenatal gut microbiota (GM) and its functions predict the development of offspring temperament. A total of 53 mothers with a 1-year-old child and 41 mothers with a 2-year-old child were included in this study using a mother-infant cohort from central China. Maternal fecal samples collected during the third trimester were analyzed using 16S rRNA V3-V4 gene sequences. Temperament of the child was measured by self-reported data according to the primary caregiver. The effects of GM in mothers on offspring's temperament were evaluated using multiple linear regression models. The results demonstrated that the alpha diversity index Simpson of prenatal GM was positively associated with the activity level of offspring at 1 year (adj. = .036). was positively associated with high-intensity pleasure characteristics of offspring at 1 year (adj. = .031). Comparatively, the presence of found in the prenatal microbiome was associated with low-intensity pleasure characteristics in offspring at 2 years (adj. = .031). There were many significant associations noted among the functional pathways of prenatal GM and temperament of offspring at 2 years. Our findings support the maternal-fetal GM axis in the setting of fetal-placental development with subsequent postnatal neurocognitive developmental outcomes, and suggest that early childhood temperament is in part associated with specific GM in the prenatal setting.
PubMed: 38865156
DOI: 10.1177/10998004241260894 -
Food & Function Jun 2024The most significant contributor to global mortality are cardiovascular diseases. Dietary factors significantly impact the risk, advancement, and treatment of... (Review)
Review
The most significant contributor to global mortality are cardiovascular diseases. Dietary factors significantly impact the risk, advancement, and treatment of cardiometabolic conditions. Chocolate, known for its adaptability and capacity to stimulate pleasure centers, emerges as a promising vehicle for integrating different bioactive elements. This systematic review analyzed 10 randomized controlled trials investigating the health effects of consuming enriched, fortified, or supplemented chocolate. These trials varied in chocolate intake amounts (ranging from 5 to 101 g day), incorporated bioactive components (co-crystalized astaxanthin, lycopene, wood-based phytosterol-phytostanol mixture, canola sterol esters, .), and duration (from 2 weeks to 1 year). Some enriched chocolates were found to reduce total and LDL cholesterol and influence markers of oxidative damage, inflammation, immune function, and skin parameters. However, certain trials showed a minimal impact on health outcomes. Therefore, while enriched chocolate holds promise as a carrier for beneficial bioactive compounds, rigorous scientific inquiry and methodological rigor are crucial to fully substantiate these claims. Comprehensive evaluations covering cardiovascular health, metabolic function, immune response, and other aspects are needed to understand its potential benefits and limitations. Advancing robust research initiatives could help realize the full potential of enriched chocolate in promoting human health and well-being.
PubMed: 38864465
DOI: 10.1039/d4fo01574f -
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics Jun 2024We value what we choose more than what is imposed upon us. Choice-induced preferences are extensively demonstrated using behavioural and neural methods, mainly involving...
We value what we choose more than what is imposed upon us. Choice-induced preferences are extensively demonstrated using behavioural and neural methods, mainly involving rewarding objects such as money or material goods. However, the impact of choice on experiences, especially in the realm of affective touch, remains less explored. In this study, we specifically investigate whether choice can enhance the pleasure derived from affective touch, thereby increasing its intrinsic rewarding value. We conducted an experiment in which participants were being touched by an experimenter and asked to rate how pleasant their experience of touch was. They were given either a choice or no choice over certain touch stimulus variables which differed in their relevance: some were of low relevance (relating to the colour of the glove that the experimenter would use to touch them), while others were of high relevance (relating to the location on their arm where they would be stroked). Before and during touching, pupillometry was used to measure the level of arousal. We found that having a choice over aspects of tactile stimuli-especially those relevant to oneself-enhanced the pleasant perception of the touch. In addition, having a choice increases arousal in anticipation of touch. Regardless of how relevant it is to the actual tactile stimulus, allowing one to choose may positively enhance a person's perception of the physical contact they receive.
PubMed: 38858303
DOI: 10.3758/s13414-024-02887-6 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jun 2024Pleasure and pain are two fundamental, intertwined aspects of human emotions. Pleasurable sensations can reduce subjective feelings of pain and vice versa, and we often...
Pleasure and pain are two fundamental, intertwined aspects of human emotions. Pleasurable sensations can reduce subjective feelings of pain and vice versa, and we often perceive the termination of pain as pleasant and the absence of pleasure as unpleasant. This implies the existence of brain systems that integrate them into modality-general representations of affective experiences. Here, we examined representations of affective valence and intensity in an functional MRI (fMRI) study ( = 58) of sustained pleasure and pain. We found that the distinct subpopulations of voxels within the ventromedial and lateral prefrontal cortices, the orbitofrontal cortex, the anterior insula, and the amygdala were involved in decoding affective valence versus intensity. Affective valence and intensity predictive models showed significant decoding performance in an independent test dataset ( = 62). These models were differentially connected to distinct large-scale brain networks-the intensity model to the ventral attention network and the valence model to the limbic and default mode networks. Overall, this study identified the brain representations of affective valence and intensity across pleasure and pain, promoting a systems-level understanding of human affective experiences.
Topics: Humans; Pleasure; Male; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Female; Pain; Adult; Brain; Brain Mapping; Young Adult; Amygdala; Emotions; Prefrontal Cortex; Affect
PubMed: 38857402
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310433121 -
Journal of Traumatic Stress Jun 2024Despite the established association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and impulsivity, the literature is limited regarding impulsivity as a multifaceted...
Despite the established association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and impulsivity, the literature is limited regarding impulsivity as a multifaceted construct. That is, the field's understanding of how PTSD symptoms may increase particular impulsive tendencies and behaviors is constrained by examining impulsivity solely as an umbrella term. The aim of the present study was to determine if there are differential associations between PTSD symptom severity and various components of impulsivity across multiple self-report measures. A sample of 215 undergraduate women (M age = 19.77 years, SD = 1.91, Range: 18-39 years) completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), short version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (SUPPS-P), and Delaying Gratification Inventory (DGI). Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between PTSD symptoms and each measure's subscales. The findings included significant predictions from PTSD symptoms to the BIS-11 Attentional Impulsiveness subscale, β = .23, SE = .07, 95% CI [.09, .37]; DGI Physical Pleasures, β = -.24, SE = .07, 95% CI [-.38, -.11], and Achievement subscales, β = -.19, SE = .08, 95% CI [-.34, -.04]; and the SUPPS-P Positive Urgency, β = .22, SE = .08, 95% CI [.07, .37], and Negative Urgency subscales, β = .32, SE = .07, 95% CI [.19, .46]. These results have implications for precision medicine approaches that emphasize targeting these specific facets of impulsivity, with likely downstream effects on health risk behaviors for emerging adult women.
PubMed: 38853630
DOI: 10.1002/jts.23060