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Cited by 784Pain Mechanisms and TreatmentsNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorPain Management and Placebo Effect

A common neurobiology for pain and pleasure

Leknes, Siri, Tracey, Irene·2008·Nature Reviews Neuroscience
DOI 10.1038/nrn2333
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Abstract

Pain and pleasure are powerful motivators of behaviour and have historically been considered opposites. Emerging evidence from the pain and reward research fields points to extensive similarities in the anatomical substrates of painful and pleasant sensations. Recent molecular-imaging and animal studies have demonstrated the important role of the opioid and dopamine systems in modulating both pain and pleasure. Understanding the mutually inhibitory effects that pain and reward processing have on each other, and the neural mechanisms that underpin such modulation, is important for alleviating unnecessary suffering and improving well-being.

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Authors
Leknes, S., & Tracey, I.
Affiliations
John Radcliffe Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Tracey, Irene
ORCID
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2008-04
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
314-320
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
DOI
10.1038/nrn2333
OpenAlex
W2050134288
Semantic Scholar
5c7a6d152be4a14216e5ff7dcd87fefc35df55fe
Cited by
784
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 43 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 45 · 2013: 59 · 2012: 39
FWCI
3.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
Keywords
pain, pleasure, reward, opioid system, dopaminergic system, molecular imaging, well-being, suffering
MeSH terms
Animals, Emotions, Humans, Neurobiology, Pain, Pleasure-Pain Principle

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