-
Current Biology : CB Dec 2019Listening to music often evokes intense emotions [1, 2]. Recent research suggests that musical pleasure comes from positive reward prediction errors, which arise when...
Listening to music often evokes intense emotions [1, 2]. Recent research suggests that musical pleasure comes from positive reward prediction errors, which arise when what is heard proves to be better than expected [3]. Central to this view is the engagement of the nucleus accumbens-a brain region that processes reward expectations-to pleasurable music and surprising musical events [4-8]. However, expectancy violations along multiple musical dimensions (e.g., harmony and melody) have failed to implicate the nucleus accumbens [9-11], and it is unknown how music reward value is assigned [12]. Whether changes in musical expectancy elicit pleasure has thus remained elusive [11]. Here, we demonstrate that pleasure varies nonlinearly as a function of the listener's uncertainty when anticipating a musical event, and the surprise it evokes when it deviates from expectations. Taking Western tonal harmony as a model of musical syntax, we used a machine-learning model [13] to mathematically quantify the uncertainty and surprise of 80,000 chords in US Billboard pop songs. Behaviorally, we found that chords elicited high pleasure ratings when they deviated substantially from what the listener had expected (low uncertainty, high surprise) or, conversely, when they conformed to expectations in an uninformative context (high uncertainty, low surprise). Neurally, we found using fMRI that activity in the amygdala, hippocampus, and auditory cortex reflected this interaction, while the nucleus accumbens only reflected uncertainty. These findings challenge current neurocognitive models of music-evoked pleasure and highlight the synergistic interplay between prospective and retrospective states of expectation in the musical experience. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Topics: Adult; Amygdala; Auditory Cortex; Auditory Perception; Female; Hippocampus; Humans; Male; Music; Nucleus Accumbens; Pleasure; Uncertainty; Young Adult
PubMed: 31708393
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.067 -
Journal of Psychiatric Research Feb 2020Recent conceptual frameworks propose anhedonia reflects abnormalities in the temporal dynamics of positive emotion in schizophrenia, characterized by intact consummatory... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Recent conceptual frameworks propose anhedonia reflects abnormalities in the temporal dynamics of positive emotion in schizophrenia, characterized by intact consummatory and impaired anticipatory pleasure. A comprehensive meta-analysis can directly test this theory using self-report data.
METHOD
A meta-analysis was performed on studies reporting Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) data from healthy controls and schizophrenia or schizotypy groups. The TEPS was examined as it contains subscales to measure both consummatory and anticipatory pleasure separately. Statistical heterogeneity and study bias were examined. Meta-regressions evaluated moderators.
RESULTS
53 studies were retrieved (7,797 participants). Results revealed small effect sizes for comparisons of combined schizophrenia/schizotypy and control groups for both consummatory and anticipatory pleasure. Within-group comparisons of pleasure conditions were nonsignificant. The percentage of male schizophrenia/schizotypy participants significantly moderated anticipatory and consummatory pleasure for the combined sample and schizotypy alone; male participants were found to report reduced pleasure. There was only minor evidence of bias; sensitivity analysis confirmed result robustness. Exploratory outlier removal for schizophrenia within-group pleasure comparisons revealed a statistically significant difference between reported anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, with consummatory pleasure reduced relative to anticipatory (i.e., in the opposite direction of the majority of experimental research findings).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings provided only modest support for the temporal dynamics of positive emotion conceptualization because they revealed no evidence for: 1) specific anticipatory pleasure deficits in schizophrenia-spectrum participants compared to controls; 2) significant reductions in anticipatory pleasure relative to consummatory pleasure in schizophrenia-spectrum participants.
Topics: Anhedonia; Anticipation, Psychological; Humans; Pleasure; Schizophrenia; Schizotypal Personality Disorder
PubMed: 31783235
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.11.007 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Sep 2013People often fail to empathize with others, and sometimes even experience schadenfreude-pleasure at others' misfortunes. One potent predictor of schadenfreude is envy,... (Review)
Review
People often fail to empathize with others, and sometimes even experience schadenfreude-pleasure at others' misfortunes. One potent predictor of schadenfreude is envy, which, according to the stereotype content model, is elicited by high-status, competitive targets. Here we review our recent research program investigating the relationships among stereotypes, envy, schadenfreude, and harm. Experiment 1 demonstrates that stereotypes are sufficient to influence affective responses to targets' misfortunes; participants not only report feeling less negative when misfortunes befall high-status, competitive targets as compared to other targets, they also smile more (assessed with facial EMG). Experiment 2 replicates the self-report findings from Experiment 1 and assesses behavioral tendencies toward envied targets; participants are more willing to endorse harming high-status, competitive targets as compared to other targets. Experiment 3 turns off the schadenfreude response by manipulating status and competition-relevant information regarding envied targets. Finally, Experiment 4 investigates affective and neural markers of intergroup envy and schadenfreude in the context of a long-standing sports rivalry and the extent to which neurophysiological correlates of schadenfreude are related to self-reported likelihood of harming rival team fans. We conclude with implications and future directions.
Topics: Emotions; Empathy; Humans; Models, Psychological; Pleasure; Social Behavior; Social Identification; Stereotyping
PubMed: 25708079
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12179 -
Current Biology : CB Feb 2012
Topics: Afferent Pathways; Animals; Epidermal Cells; Mammals; Mechanoreceptors; Pleasure; Touch
PubMed: 22321302
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.11.032 -
Culture, Health & Sexuality Oct 2021In a body of research typically focused on risk reduction and disease prevention, other factors motivating the sexual behaviours of Latino sexual minority men, such as...
In a body of research typically focused on risk reduction and disease prevention, other factors motivating the sexual behaviours of Latino sexual minority men, such as resource-based power and sexual pleasure, are less well understood. To this end, Latino immigrant sexual minority men living in New York City were surveyed about their sexual behaviours, perceived power differentials, and pleasure from insertive and receptive anal intercourse. Power and pleasure were examined as associations with behavioural profiles identified through latent class analysis, adjusting for age and partner type. Four latent classes of Latino sexual minority men were identified based on behaviours reported during the most recent sexual event: behaviourally insertive (14.2%), behaviourally versatile (25.9%), behaviourally receptive (29.2%), and limited penetrative behaviour (30.7%). Participants who derived pleasure from insertive and receptive anal intercourse had higher odds of belonging in the behaviourally insertive and behaviourally receptive class, respectively. Perceptions of resource-based power were not associated with class membership. Findings highlight the importance of sexual pleasure as a driver of sexual behaviour, irrespective of power dynamics. Sexual health curricula and interventions for sexual minority men should consider sexual pleasure and sex-affirmative frameworks when providing sexuality education and promoting sexual wellbeing.
Topics: HIV Infections; Hispanic or Latino; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Perception; Pleasure; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexual and Gender Minorities
PubMed: 32744462
DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2020.1781263 -
Praxis Feb 2021An Itching Pleasure A 50-year-old female patient presents in the emergency department with an itchy, acneiform exanthema on the trunk and malaise for two days....
An Itching Pleasure A 50-year-old female patient presents in the emergency department with an itchy, acneiform exanthema on the trunk and malaise for two days. Laboratory testing showed no abnormalities. After further questioning, the patient reported frequent use of her new whirlpool. Based on the medical history and the clinic we suspected a pseudomonas folliculitis. A bacterial culture of the pustules showed growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which confirmed the diagnosis. Systemic antibiotics were not necessary in the absence of risk factors for severe progress or immunosuppression. The exanthema healed within a few days without any complications by using external disinfectants.
Topics: Female; Folliculitis; Humans; Middle Aged; Pleasure; Pruritus; Pseudomonas Infections; Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PubMed: 33530778
DOI: 10.1024/1661-8157/a003426 -
American Journal of Public Health Feb 2020
Topics: Humans; Pleasure; Public Health
PubMed: 31913673
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305496 -
American Journal of Public Health Feb 2020
Topics: Global Health; Human Rights; Humans; Pleasure; Politics; Reproductive Health; Risk Reduction Behavior; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Health
PubMed: 31913674
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305497 -
Journal of Sex Research 2022Despite documented negative sexual health sequelae of unwanted sexual contact (USC), it is unclear why individuals who have experienced USC within the context of...
Despite documented negative sexual health sequelae of unwanted sexual contact (USC), it is unclear why individuals who have experienced USC within the context of intoxication (intoxication-related USC) are at particular risk for poor sexual functioning. Intoxication-related USC may impact relational factors like relationship satisfaction, as trauma symptoms interfere with emotional closeness during sex. Additionally, although individual traits - such as sexual excitation and sensation seeking - affect the relationship between trauma and sexual functioning, it is unknown whether these factors differentially impact those who have experienced intoxication-related USC. Finally, because presence of a partner may evoke trauma-related symptoms during partnered (dyadic) sexual activity, mediators may differ across solitary versus dyadic sexual pleasure and desire. We tested relational and individual trait mediators of the association between intoxication-related USC and solitary and dyadic sexual pleasure and desire in a sample of heterosexual and sexual minority women. Trait factors consistently mediated the association between intoxication-related USC and both dyadic and solitary desire and pleasure, while relational factors such as emotional closeness were inconsistently related to sexual wellbeing. If replicated, these findings would suggest that trait factors may be useful targets for clinical sexual wellness interventions among sexuality-diverse women who have experienced intoxication-related USC.
Topics: Female; Humans; Libido; Pleasure; Sexual Partners; Sexual Behavior; Heterosexuality
PubMed: 35262426
DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2030661 -
Journal of Neurophysiology Dec 2016Studies have explored behavioral and neural responses to the observation of pain in others. However, much less is known about how taking a physical perspective...
Studies have explored behavioral and neural responses to the observation of pain in others. However, much less is known about how taking a physical perspective influences reactivity to the observation of others' pain and pleasure. To explore this issue we devised a novel paradigm in which 24 healthy participants immersed in a virtual reality scenario observed a virtual: needle penetrating (pain), caress (pleasure), or ball touching (neutral) the hand of an avatar seen from a first (1PP)- or a third (3PP)-person perspective. Subjective ratings and physiological responses [skin conductance responses (SCR) and heart rate (HR)] were collected in each trial. All participants reported strong feelings of ownership of the virtual hand only in 1PP. Subjective measures also showed that pain and pleasure were experienced as more salient than neutral. SCR analysis demonstrated higher reactivity in 1PP than in 3PP. Importantly, vicarious pain induced stronger responses with respect to the other conditions in both perspectives. HR analysis revealed equally lower activity during pain and pleasure with respect to neutral. SCR may reflect egocentric perspective, and HR may merely index general arousal. The results suggest that behavioral and physiological indexes of reactivity to seeing others' pain and pleasure were qualitatively similar in 1PP and 3PP. Our paradigm indicates that virtual reality can be used to study vicarious sensation of pain and pleasure without actually delivering any stimulus to participants' real body and to explore behavioral and physiological reactivity when they observe pain and pleasure from ego- and allocentric perspectives.
Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Blood Pressure; Exploratory Behavior; Female; Galvanic Skin Response; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Pain; Photic Stimulation; Pleasure; Psychophysics; Reaction Time; Self Concept; User-Computer Interface; Visual Analog Scale; Young Adult
PubMed: 27655965
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00489.2016