Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41630828›Full record

ArticleBiological psychiatry global open science2026

μ Opioid Modulation of Sensorimotor Functional Connectivity in Autism: Insights From a Pharmacological Neuroimaging Investigation Using Tianeptine.

Mihail Dimitrov, Nichol M L Wong, Sydney Leaman, Lucas G S França, Ioannis Valasakis, Jason He, David J Lythgoe, James L Findon, Robert H Wichers, Vladimira Stoencheva and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biological psychiatry global open science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Mihail DimitrovDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Nichol M L WongDepartment of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Sydney LeamanMedical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Lucas G S FrançaDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Ioannis ValasakisDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Jason HeDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
David J LythgoeDepartment of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
James L FindonDepartment of Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Robert H WichersN=You Neurodevelopmental Precision Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychosocial Care, Division of Woman-Child, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Vladimira StoenchevaAdult ADHD and Autism Service, Croydon Adult and Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Directorate, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Dene M RobertsonDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Sarah BlaineyDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Glynis IvinSouth London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom.
Štefan HoligaRoche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.
Mark D TricklebankDepartment of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Dafnis BatalleDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Declan G M MurphyDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Gráinne M McAlonanDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Eileen DalyDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Reproducible patterns of atypical functional connectivity (FC) of sensorimotor and higher-order networks have previously been identified in the autistic brain. However, the neurosignaling pathways underpinning these differences remain unclear. The μ opioid system is involved in sensory processing as well as social and reward behaviors and has been implicated in autism, suggesting a potential role in shaping the autistic brain. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that there is atypical involvement of the μ opioid system in these networks in autism. Methods: We used a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, crossover study design to compare the effects of a single dose of the μ opioid receptor agonist tianeptine in autistic ( Results: We found that tianeptine increased FC of a sensorimotor network previously characterized by atypically low FC in autism. The connectivity of the frontoparietal network was not significantly shifted. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that μ opioid neurosignaling may contribute to functional brain differences in the sensorimotor network in autism. Given that sensorimotor system alterations are thought to be central to autism and contribute to other core autistic features, as well as adaptability and mental health, further research is warranted to explore the translational potential of μ opioid modulation in autism.

Indexed as

AutismDegree centralityFunctional connectivityrs-fMRITianeptineμ opioid

Identifiers

PMID41630828
PMCPMC12860718

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.