The mu-opioid receptor and the evolution of mother–infant attachment: theoretical comment on Higham et al. (2011)
Abstract
Genetic variation at a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) of both humans and rhesus macaques Macaca mulatta has been associated with differential affinity to the endogenous ligand beta-endorphin as well as alterations in pain sensitivity, drug and alcohol dependence, and social behaviors. The new study by Higham et al. (2011) presented in the current issue of this journal shows for the first time that some of the natural variation in maternal behavior observed in rhesus macaque populations can also be explained by genetic differences at this SNP. This work, in conjunction with other recent studies showing that genetic variability at this same locus are related to changes in infant attachment, provides unique insights into how opioids have been reutilized during evolution to coordinate the mother-infant relationship.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In mothers with low sensitivity, the motivational or incentive salience of emotional and/or infant cues may be diminished through deficits in this and also in other OT-opioid reward pathways.
“In mothers with low sensitivity, the motivational or incentive salience of emotional and/or infant cues may be diminished through deficits in this and also in other OT-opioid reward pathways (Curley, 2011).”
From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Curley, 2011
Cites
Bond, C. E., LaForge, K. S., Tian, M., Melia, D., Zhang, S., Borg, L., Gong, J., Schluger, J. H., Strong, J. A., Leal, S. M., et al. (1998) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.95.16.9608 · Cited by 1,072 · see citing works
State-dependent opioid control of pain
Fields, H. (2004) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn1431 · Cited by 946 · see citing works
The social role of touch in humans and primates: Behavioural function and neurobiological mechanisms
Dunbar, R. I. M. (2010) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.07.001 · Cited by 798 · see citing works
Endogenous opioid systems and alcohol addiction
Herz, A. (1997) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s002130050169 · Cited by 749 · see citing works
Nelson, E. E., & Panksepp, J. (1998) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/s0149-7634(97)00052-3 · Cited by 688 · see citing works
Distribution and targeting of a mu-opioid receptor (MOR1) in brain and spinal cord
Arvidsson, U., Riedl, M. S., Chakrabarti, S., Lee, J., Nakano, A., Dado, R. J., Hh, L., Law, P., Wessendorf, M., & Elde, R. (1995) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.15-05-03328.1995 · Cited by 638 · see citing works
Oslin, D. W., Berrettini, W., Kranzler, H. R., Pettinati, H., Gelernter, J., Volpicelli, J. R., & O'Brien, C. P. (2003) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1300219 · Cited by 571 · see citing works
The effects of opioids and opioid analogs on animal and human endocrine systems
Vuong, C., Van Uum, S. H. M., O'Dell, L. E., Lutfy, K., & Friedman, T. C. (2010) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/er.2009-0009 · Cited by 564 · see citing works
Allelic Expression Imbalance of Human mu Opioid Receptor (OPRM1) Caused by Variant A118G
Zhang, Y., Wang, D., Johnson, A. D., Papp, A. C., & Sadée, W. (2005) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1074/jbc.m504942200 · Cited by 563 · see citing works
Keverne, E. B., Martensz, N. D., & Tuite, B. (1989) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/0306-4530(89)90065-6 · Cited by 525 · see citing works
Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2008) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsn004 · Cited by 474 · see citing works
Cloning and pharmacological characterization of a rat μ opioid receptor
Thompson, R. C., Mansour, A., Akil, H., & Watson, S. J. (1993) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/0896-6273(93)90120-g · Cited by 451 · see citing works
Ray, L. A., & Hutchison, K. E. (2004) · Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1097/01.alc.0000148114.34000.b9 · Cited by 312 · see citing works
Infant-parent attachment: Definition, types, antecedents, measurement and outcome
Benoit, D. (2004) · Paediatrics & Child Health · doi:10.1093/pch/9.8.541 · Cited by 305 · see citing works
Sia, A. T. H., Lim, Y., Lim, E. C. P., Goh, R., Law, H. Y., Landau, R., Teo, Y.-Y., & Tan, E. (2008) · Anesthesiology · doi:10.1097/aln.0b013e318182af21 · Cited by 296 · see citing works
Mother–infant bonding and the evolution of mammalian social relationships
Broad, K. D., Curley, J. P., & Keverne, E. B. (2006) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2006.1940 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Self-citationWay, B. M., Taylor, S. E., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2009) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0812612106 · Cited by 264 · see citing works
Ray, L. A., & Hutchison, K. E. (2007) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.64.9.1069 · Cited by 258 · see citing works
Coadaptation in mother and infant regulated by a paternally expressed imprinted gene
Curley, J. P., Barton, S. C., Surani, M. A., & Keverne, E. B. (2004) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2725 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
Self-citationGenes, brains and mammalian social bonds
Curley, J. P., & Keverne, E. B. (2005) · Trends in Ecology & Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.tree.2005.05.018 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Self-citationKroslak, T., LaForge, K. S., Gianotti, R. J., Ho, A., Nielsen, D. A., & Kreek, M. J. (2007) · Journal of Neurochemistry · doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04738.x · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Mothering of Adolescents: A Comparison of Two Samples.
Neiderhiser, J. M., Reiss, D., Pedersen, N. L., Lichtenstein, P., Spotts, E. L., Hansson, K., Cederblad, M., & Elthammer, O. (2004) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.40.3.335 · Cited by 207 · see citing works
Way, B. M., & Lieberman, M. D. (2010) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsq059 · Cited by 206 · see citing works
Barr, C. S., Schwandt, M. L., Lindell, S. G., Higley, J. D., Maestripieri, D., Goldman, D., Suomi, S. J., & Heilig, M. (2008) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0710225105 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Opiate modulation of separation-induced distress in non-human primates
Kalin, N. H., Shelton, S. E., & Barksdale, C. M. (1988) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(88)90997-3 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Epigenetics, brain evolution and behaviour
Keverne, E. B., & Curley, J. P. (2008) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2008.03.001 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Self-citationMaternity: Neural mechanisms, motivational processes, and physiological adaptations.
Numan, M., & Woodside, B. C. (2010) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037/a0021548 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
McCormack, K., Newman, T. K., Higley, J. D., Maestripieri, D., & Sanchez, M. M. (2009) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.01.009 · Cited by 161 · see citing works
Opiate systems in mother and infant primates coordinate intimate contact during reunion
Kalin, N. H., Shelton, S. E., & Lynn, D. E. (1995) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/0306-4530(95)00023-2 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Troisi, A., Frazzetto, G., Carola, V., Di Lorenzo, G., Coviello, M., D'Amato, F. R., Moles, A., Siracusano, A., & Gross, C. (2011) · Social Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/17470919.2010.482786 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Dopamine system genes associated with parenting in the context of daily hassles
van IJzendoorn, M. H., Bakermans‐Kranenburg, M. J., & Mesman, J. (2007) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/j.1601-183x.2007.00362.x · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Martel, F. L., Nevison, C. M., Simpson, M. J. A., & Keverne, E. B. (1995) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.420280202 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Emotion regulation and touch in infants: the role of cholecystokinin and opioids
Weller, A., & Feldman, R. (2003) · Peptides · doi:10.1016/s0196-9781(03)00118-9 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Miller, G. M., Bendor, J., Tiefenbacher, S., Yang, H. S., Novak, M. A., & Madras, B. K. (2003) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001378 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Mileva‐Seitz, V. R., Kennedy, J. L., Atkinson, L. R., Steiner, M., Levitan, R. D., Matthews, S. G., Meaney, M. J., Sokolowski, M. B., & Fleming, A. S. (2011) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/j.1601-183x.2010.00671.x · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Role of Mu- and Delta-Opioid Receptors in the Nucleus Accumbens in Cocaine-Seeking Behavior
Simmons, D. L., & Self, D. W. (2009) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2009.28 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Opioid receptor blockade reduces maternal affect and social grooming in rhesus monkeys
Martel, F. L., Nevison, C. M., Rayment, F. D., Simpson, M. J. A., & Keverne, E. B. (1993) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/0306-4530(93)90027-i · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Keverne, E. B., & Kendrick, K. M. (1991) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(91)90492-e · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Broad, K. D., Kendrick, K. M., SIRINATHSINGHJI, D. J. S., & Keverne, E. B. (1993) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.1993.tb00544.x · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Higham, J. P., Barr, C. S., Hoffman, C. L., Mandalaywala, T. M., Parker, K. J., & Maestripieri, D. (2011) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037/a0022695 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Early Learning and the Social Bond
Keverne, E. B., Nevison, C. M., & Martel, F. L. (1997) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb51930.x · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Opioids and attachment in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) abusive mothers.
Graves, F. C., Wallen, K., & Dario Maestripieri, A. (2002) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037//0735-7044.116.3.489 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Schino, G., & Troisi, A. (1992) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(92)90617-i · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Dario Maestripieri, A. (2003) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.10143 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Barr, C. S., Chen, S. A., Schwandt, M. L., Lindell, S. G., Sun, H., Suomi, S. J., & Heilig, M. A. (2009) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.07.026 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Plasma β-endorphin concentrations prior to and during pregnancy, in labor, and after delivery
Hoffman, D., Abboud, T., Haase, H., Hung, T. T., & Goebelsmann, U. (1984) · American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · doi:10.1016/s0002-9378(84)90426-5 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Kendrick, K. M., & Keverne, E. B. (1989) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(89)91462-5 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Establishment of a preference by the newborn lamb for its mother: The role of opioids.
Shayit, M., Nowak, R., Keller, M., & Weller, A. (2003) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037/0735-7044.117.3.446 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Attachment behavior and its antecedents in offspring born to methadone-maintained women
Goodman, G., Hans, S. L., & Cox, S. M. (1999) · Journal of Clinical Child Psychology · doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp2801_5 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Plasma beta‐endorphin concentrations during suckling in lactating women
FRANCESCHINI, R., Venturini, P. L., Cataldi, A., BARRECA, T., Ragni, N., & Rolandi, E. (1989) · BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology · doi:10.1111/j.1471-0528.1989.tb03287.x · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Morphine suppresses the oxytocin response in breast-feeding women
Lindow, S. W., Hendricks, M. S., Nugent, F. A., Dunne, T. T., & van der Spuy, Z. M. (1999) · Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation · doi:10.1159/000010130 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Naltrexone delays the onset of maternal behavior in primiparous parturient ewes
Caba, M., Poindron, P., Krehbiel, D., Lévy, F., Romeyer, A., & Vénier, G. (1995) · Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior · doi:10.1016/0091-3057(95)00168-v · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Gordon, K., Hodgen, G. D., & Richardson, D. W. (1992) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jcem.75.1.1619032 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Lindow, S. W., Spuy, Z. M., Hendricks, M. S., Rosselli, A. P., Lombard, C., & Leng, G. (1992) · Clinical Endocrinology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1992.tb02337.x · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Nowak, R., Goursaud, A. P., Lévy, F., et al. (1997) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037//0735-7044.111.6.1375 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Pang, G. S., Wang, J., Wang, Z., Goh, C. R., & Lee, C. G. L. (2009) · Pharmacogenomics · doi:10.2217/pgs.09.63 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Decreased maternal-fetal attachment in methadone-maintained pregnant women: a preliminary study.
Mikhail, M. S., Youchah, J., DeVore, N. E., Ho, G. Y., & Anyaegbunam, A. M. (1995) · PubMed · Cited by 17 · see citing works
[Medical-social outcome of 59 infants born to addicted mothers].
Lejeune, C., Ropert, J. C., Montamat, S., Floch-Tudal, C., Mazy, F., Wijkhuisen, N., & Froment, H. (1997) · PubMed · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Lindow, S. W., van der Spuy, Z. M., Hendricks, M. S., Nugent, F. A., & Dunne, T. T. (1993) · Clinical Endocrinology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1993.tb02425.x · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Misiti, A., Turillazzi, P. G., Zapponi, G. A., et al. (1991) · Pharmacological Research · doi:10.1016/1043-6618(91)90069-a · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Burkett, J. P., & Young, L. J. (2012) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-012-2794-x · Cited by 307 · see citing works
“These studies suggest that the role of MOR in maternal behavior is conserved in humans and also show a direct overlap between mechanisms that encode for altered attachment style and risk of alcohol dependence ( for a concise overview of these topics , see Curley 2011 ) .”
Swain, J. E., Kim, P., Spicer, J., Ho, S. S., Dayton, C. J., Elmadih, A., & Abel, K. M. (2014) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2014.03.007 · Cited by 290 · see citing works
- Authors
- Curley, J. P.
- Affiliations
- Columbia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Curley, James P.
- ORCID
- Curley, James P.
- Venue
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Published
- 2011
- Volume
- 125
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 273-278
- ISSN
- 0735-7044 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-0084
- OpenAlex
- W2146704029
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- mu-opioid receptor, OPRM1, single nucleotide polymorphisms, rhesus monkeys, maternal behavior, maternal attachment, beta-endorphin, pain sensitivity, social behavior, genetic variation
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Female, Maternal Behavior, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Genetic Variation, Receptors, Opioid, mu
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review