Opioid Modulation and Neural Reward Activation in Healthy Adults

Opioid Modulation and Neural Reward Activation in Healthy Adults

This is a double blind study of the effects of opioid antagonism on the brain's reward response. The investigators will recruit participants to undergo two scans, one on active medication and one on placebo. During the scan, the investigators will assess reward.

The study will employ a crossover design. The study will use the monetary incentive delay task during functional MRI to assess reward. This task presents participants with cues indicating whether they are playing to win $5, win $0, or to avoid losing $5. This task has been well-validated to elicit activation in a key reward response area of the brain called the ventral striatum.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between 18 and 35 years of age,
• Is a moderate drinker (i.e. consumes 1-14 drinks/week for males, or 1-7 drinks/week for females).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-drinker
• Positive result on urine drug screen or breathalyzer at the start of any study visit
• Inability to complete MRI (e.g. presence of ferromagnetic objects in body)
• Current use of medications that alter the hemodynamic response such as insulin
• History of trauma resulting in loss of consciousness longer than 15 minutes
• Currently taking opioid medications
• Pregnancy