Date: Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, 15:00h-16:00h UTC+2 (CEST)
Speaker: Siri Leknes, University of Oslo, Norway
Title: The neurochemical basis of subjective experience – insights from opioid drug studies in humans
Abstract:
The Leknes Affective Brains lab (affectivebrains.com) typically uses drug administration in humans to study the neurochemical basis of experiences such as pain, stress, and reward. In this talk, I will report results from some recent laboratory-based investigations in healthy volunteers as well as showcase subjective experiences induced by opioid drugs given to surgery patients on the operating table right before surgery. I will show that contrary to much preclinical evidence and related theories, human subjective experience is only modestly impacted by endogenous opioids, as uncovered by pharmacological blockade of opioid receptors. Our findings challenge the commonly held belief that opioids are the most powerful painkillers, as well as Panksepp’s long-standing theory that opioids are so addictive because they hijack neural circuits underpinning social bonds. Finally, although the evidence points to a minor role for endogenous opioid regulation of mood and affective state, opioid drugs powerfully alter subjective experience, e.g. by inducing strong sedation and dizziness that could preclude mobility during acute recovery after e.g. surgery.
Biography:
Siri Leknes is a Professor of Social and Affective Neuroscience at the University of Oslo, Norway, and Senior Researcher at Oslo University Hospital. She completed her D.Phil. at Oxford, UK, and postdoctoral research at Gothenburg University, Sweden.
Leknes’ work on the benefits of acute pain was awarded The Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize in Social/Personality Psychology. Leknes has served as associate editor for Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience and is now associate editor for Pain. She is past-President of the Society for Social Neuroscience.
The overarching aim of Leknes’ Affective Brain lab (LAB lab) is to understand how the brain and body give rise to pleasurable and painful feelings. LAB lab specialises in drug studies, charting how the brain’s neurochemical systems shape hedonic feelings, decisions and behaviour. In addition, LAB lab conducts clinical research, studying mood, stress and pain in groups treated with opioid agonists and antagonists.
Leknes was awarded an ERC Starting grant to study of state-dependent effects of opioids and their relation to stress and social support. Her recently awarded ERC Consolidator grant will explore variability in responses to endogenous and exogenous opioids, targeting the reasons why people respond so differently to the same thing.
You can learn more about Siri’s work at: https://affectivebrains.com
—
If you are interested in giving a talk please write an email to: lab.imbody@gmail.com.