‘Naltrexone Blocks Endorphins Released when Dancing in Synchrony’

Abstract

Group synchronised dance is hypothesised to activate the Endogenous Opioid System (EOS), thereby increasing pain threshold, and encouraging social closeness. Previous studies have been limited to the use of pain threshold as a proxy indicator of EOS activation. We conducted a double-blind administration of placebo and naltrexone (an endorphin antagonist) before groups of strangers danced in synchrony and measured both pain threshold and sense of belonging to the group after dancing. A 100 mg dose of naltrexone resulted in significant hyperalgesic effects compared to the control participants, confirming that increases in pain threshold in the control group are due to activation of the EOS and release of endorphins during synchronised dancing. However, there was no significant effect of treatment on perceptions of social closeness. Social bonding during dance may plausibly be underpinned by elements of the EOS not blocked by naltrexone and/or interactions with other neurohormones and socio-cognitive mechanisms.

Naltrexone alters responses to social and physical warmth: implications for social bonding

“…The effect of naltrexone on self-reported feelings of social connection to social and physical warmth resulted in a pattern consistent with hypotheses but was not statistically significant. Indeed, the effect of naltrexone on feelings of social connection shows mixed results with some studies showing a statistically significant reduction (Inagaki et al, 2015; Inagaki et al, 2016a), some showing no effect (Tarr et al, 2017) and some showing an effect only after considering moderators (Depue and Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005). Similarly, holding a warm vs a cool object did not increase VS and MI activity corrected at the whole brain in the placebo group.…”

Opioidergic Regulation of Emotional Arousal: A Combined PET–fMRI Study

“…For example, social laughter [57], music performance [58], viewing of emotionally engaging movies [59] and rowing with others [60] elevate pain threshold, suggesting that various forms of social affiliation induce enhanced opioidergic processing in humans. While the evidence from these studies is indirect, it has also been shown that the dance-induced elevation of pain threshold can be blocked with naltrexone-pretreatment [61]. This finding suggests that opioidergic activity indeed contributes to the analgesic effect of affiliation.…”

Structure and function in human and primate social networks: implications for diffusion, network stability and health

“…In order to be able to increase group size, humans discovered how to exploit other behaviours that also trigger the endorphin system in a way that is, in effect, a form of grooming-at-a-distance. These include laughter [ 109 ], singing [ 110 ], dancing [ 111 ], emotional storytelling [ 112 ], and communal eating [ 113 , 114 ] and drinking (of alcohol) [ 115 ], all of which trigger the endorphin system and do so incrementally when done in synchrony [ 116 , 117 ]. Because they do not involve direct physical contact, more individuals can be ‘groomed’ simultaneously, thereby allowing a form of time-sharing that makes it possible to reach more individuals and so increase group size.…”