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Liu C, Li K, Fu M, Zhang Y, Sindermann C, Montag C, Zheng X, Zhang H, Yao S, Wang Z, Zhou B, Kendrick KM, Becker B. A central serotonin regulating gene polymorphism (TPH2) determines vulnerability to acute tryptophan depletion-induced anxiety and ventromedial prefrontal threat reactivity in healthy young men. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 77:24-34. [PMID: 37666184 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.08.484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) has long been implicated in adaptive emotion regulation as well as the development and treatment of emotional dysregulations in mental disorders. Accumulating evidence suggests a genetic vulnerability may render some individuals at a greater risk for the detrimental effects of transient variations in 5-HT signaling. The present study aimed to investigate whether individual variations in the Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) genetics influence susceptibility for behavioral and neural threat reactivity dysregulations during transiently decreased 5-HT signaling. To this end, interactive effects between TPH2 (rs4570625) genotype and acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on threat reactivity were examined in a within-subject placebo-controlled pharmacological fMRI trial (n = 51). A priori genotype stratification of extreme groups (GG vs. TT) allowed balanced sampling. While no main effects of ATD on neural reactivity to threat-related stimuli and mood state were observed in the entire sample, accounting for TPH2 genotype revealed an ATD-induced increase in subjective anxious arousal in the GG but not the TT carriers. The effects were mirrored on the neural level, such that ATD specifically reduced ventromedial prefrontal cortex reactivity towards threat-related stimuli in the GG carriers. Furthermore, the ATD-induced increase in subjective anxiety positively associated with the extent of ATD-induced changes in ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity in response to threat-related stimuli in GG carriers. Together the present findings suggest for the first time that individual variations in TPH2 genetics render individuals susceptible to the anxiogenic and neural effects of a transient decrease in 5-HT signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Liu
- School of Psychology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, PR China; The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China; MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China.
| | - Keshuang Li
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China; MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China; School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Meina Fu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Cornelia Sindermann
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany; Interchange Forum for Reflecting on Intelligent Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christian Montag
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Xiaoxiao Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China; Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Hongxing Zhang
- School of Psychology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, PR China
| | - Shuxia Yao
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China; MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Zheng Wang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking. Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Bo Zhou
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China; MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China; MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China; Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China.
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Fritz M, Soravia SM, Dudeck M, Malli L, Fakhoury M. Neurobiology of Aggression-Review of Recent Findings and Relationship with Alcohol and Trauma. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12030469. [PMID: 36979161 PMCID: PMC10044835 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Aggression can be conceptualized as any behavior, physical or verbal, that involves attacking another person or animal with the intent of causing harm, pain or injury. Because of its high prevalence worldwide, aggression has remained a central clinical and public safety issue. Aggression can be caused by several risk factors, including biological and psychological, such as genetics and mental health disorders, and socioeconomic such as education, employment, financial status, and neighborhood. Research over the past few decades has also proposed a link between alcohol consumption and aggressive behaviors. Alcohol consumption can escalate aggressive behavior in humans, often leading to domestic violence or serious crimes. Converging lines of evidence have also shown that trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could have a tremendous impact on behavior associated with both alcohol use problems and violence. However, although the link between trauma, alcohol, and aggression is well documented, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms and their impact on behavior have not been properly discussed. This article provides an overview of recent advances in understanding the translational neurobiological basis of aggression and its intricate links to alcoholism and trauma, focusing on behavior. It does so by shedding light from several perspectives, including in vivo imaging, genes, receptors, and neurotransmitters and their influence on human and animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Fritz
- School of Health and Social Sciences, AKAD University of Applied Sciences, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, BKH Günzburg, Lindenallee 2, 89312 Günzburg, Germany
| | - Sarah-Maria Soravia
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, BKH Günzburg, Lindenallee 2, 89312 Günzburg, Germany
| | - Manuela Dudeck
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, BKH Günzburg, Lindenallee 2, 89312 Günzburg, Germany
| | - Layal Malli
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut P.O. Box 13-5053, Lebanon
| | - Marc Fakhoury
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut P.O. Box 13-5053, Lebanon
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Rajkhowa B, Mehan S, Sethi P, Prajapati A, Suri M, Kumar S, Bhalla S, Narula AS, Alshammari A, Alharbi M, Alkahtani N, Alghamdi S, Kalfin R. Activating SIRT-1 Signalling with the Mitochondrial-CoQ10 Activator Solanesol Improves Neurobehavioral and Neurochemical Defects in Ouabain-Induced Experimental Model of Bipolar Disorder. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15080959. [PMID: 36015107 PMCID: PMC9415079 DOI: 10.3390/ph15080959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic mental illness characterized by mood fluctuations that range from depressive lows to manic highs. Several studies have linked the downregulation of SIRT-1 (silent mating type information regulation-2 homologs) signaling to the onset of BD and other neurological dysfunctions. This research aimed to look into the neuroprotective potential of Solanesol (SNL) in rats given ICV-Ouabain injections, focusing on its effect on SIRT-1 signaling activation in the brain. Ouabain, found in hypothalamic and medullary neurons, is an endogenous inhibitor of brain Na+/K+ ATPase. The inhibition of brain Na+/K+ ATPase by Ouabain may also result in changes in neurotransmission within the central nervous system. SNL is a Solanaceae family active phytoconstituent produced from the plant Nicotiana tabacum. SNL is used as a precursor for the production of CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), a powerful antioxidant and neuroprotective compound. In the current study, lithium (Li), an important mood stabilizer drug, was used as a control. This study looked at the neuroprotective potential of SNL at dosages of 40 and 80 mg/kg in ICV-OUA injections that caused BD-like neurobehavioral and neurochemical defects in Wistar rats. Wistar rats were placed into eight groups (n = 6) and administered 1 mM/0.5 µL ICV-OUA injections for three days. Neurochemical assessments were done in rat brain homogenates, CSF, and blood plasma samples at the end of the experiment protocol schedule. Long-term SNL and lithium administration have been shown to decrease the number of rearing and crossings and reduce time spent in the center, locomotor activities, and immobility time. Solansesol treatment gradually raises the amount of Na+/K+ ATPase, limiting the severity of behavioural symptoms. These findings also revealed that SNL increases the levels of SIRT-1 in CSF, blood plasma, and brain homogenate samples. Moreover, in rat brain homogenates and blood plasma samples, SNL modulates apoptotic markers such as Caspase-3, Bax (pro-apoptotic), and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic). Mitochondrial-ETC complex enzymes, including complex-I, II, IV, V, and CoQ10, were also restored following long-term SNL treatment. Furthermore, SNL lowered inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) levels while restoring neurotransmitter levels (serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, and acetylcholine) and decreasing oxidative stress markers. Histological examinations also validated Solanesol’s protective effect. As a result, our findings suggest that SNL, as a SIRT-1 signalling activator, may be a promising therapeutic approach for BD-like neurological dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bidisha Rajkhowa
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, India; (B.R.); (P.S.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (S.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, India; (B.R.); (P.S.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (S.K.); (S.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +91-8059889909
| | - Pranshul Sethi
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, India; (B.R.); (P.S.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (S.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Aradhana Prajapati
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, India; (B.R.); (P.S.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (S.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Manisha Suri
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, India; (B.R.); (P.S.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (S.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, India; (B.R.); (P.S.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (S.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Sonalika Bhalla
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, India; (B.R.); (P.S.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (S.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Acharan S. Narula
- Narula Research, LLC, 107 Boulder Bluff, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
| | - Abdulrahman Alshammari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.A.); (N.A.); (S.A.)
| | - Metab Alharbi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.A.); (N.A.); (S.A.)
| | - Nora Alkahtani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.A.); (N.A.); (S.A.)
| | - Saeed Alghamdi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (M.A.); (N.A.); (S.A.)
| | - Reni Kalfin
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., Block 23, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
- Department of Healthcare, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Ivan Mihailov St. 66, 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
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Wong NM, Dipasquale O, Turkheimer F, Findon JL, Wichers RH, Dimitrov M, Murphy CM, Stoencheva V, Robertson DM, Murphy DG, Daly E, McAlonan GM. Differences in social brain function in autism spectrum disorder are linked to the serotonin transporter: A randomised placebo-controlled single-dose crossover trial. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:723-731. [PMID: 35491679 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221092509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations in the serotonergic control of brain pathways responsible for facial emotion processing in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be a target for intervention. However, the molecular underpinnings of autistic-neurotypical serotonergic differences are challenging to access in vivo. Receptor-Enriched Analysis of functional Connectivity by Targets (REACT) has helped define molecular-enriched functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain networks based on a priori information about the spatial distribution of neurochemical systems from available PET templates. METHODS We used REACT to estimate the dominant fMRI signal related to the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) distribution during processing of aversive facial emotion in adults with and without ASD. We first predicted a group difference in baseline (placebo) functioning of this system. We next used a single 20 mg oral dose of citalopram, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, to test the hypothesis that network activity in people with and without ASD would respond differently to inhibition of SERT. To confirm the specificity of our findings, we also repeated the analysis with 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A and 5-HT4 receptor maps. RESULTS Using REACT with the SERT map, we found a baseline group difference in the SERT-enriched response to faces in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. A single oral dose of citalopram 'shifted' the response in the ASD group towards the neurotypical baseline but did not alter response in the control group. Similar differences in SERT-enriched response were observed after controlling for other 5-HT maps. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the SERT-enriched functional network is dynamically different in ASD during processing of socially relevant stimuli. Whether this acute neurobiological response to citalopram in ASD translates to a clinical target will be an important next step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichol Ml Wong
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK.,Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Ottavia Dipasquale
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Federico Turkheimer
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - James L Findon
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Robert H Wichers
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Behavioural Genetics Clinic, Adult Autism and ADHD Service, Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Mihail Dimitrov
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Clodagh M Murphy
- Behavioural Genetics Clinic, Adult Autism and ADHD Service, Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Vladimira Stoencheva
- Behavioural Genetics Clinic, Adult Autism and ADHD Service, Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Dene M Robertson
- Behavioural Genetics Clinic, Adult Autism and ADHD Service, Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Declan G Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Grainne M McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
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Serotonin differentially modulates the temporal dynamics of the limbic response to facial emotions in male adults with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD): a randomised placebo-controlled single-dose crossover trial. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:2248-2256. [PMID: 32388538 PMCID: PMC7784897 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0693-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Emotion processing-including signals from facial expressions-is often altered in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The biological basis of this is poorly understood but may include neurochemically mediated differences in the responsivity of key 'limbic' regions (including amygdala, ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc)). Emerging evidence also suggests that ASD may be a disorder of brain temporal dynamics. Moreover, serotonin (5-HT) has been shown to be a key regulator of both facial-emotion processing and brain dynamics, and 5-HT abnormalities have been consistently implicated in ASD. To date, however, no one has examined how 5-HT influences the dynamics of facial-emotion processing in ASD. Therefore, we compared the influence of 5-HT on the responsivity of brain dynamics during facial-emotion processing in individuals with and without ASD. Participants completed a facial-emotion processing fMRI task at least 8 days apart using a randomised double-blind crossover design. At each visit they received either a single 20-mg oral dose of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram or placebo. We found that citalopram (which increases levels of 5-HT) caused sustained activation in key limbic regions during processing of negative facial emotions in adults with ASD-but not in neurotypical adults. The neurotypical adults' limbic response reverted more rapidly to baseline following a 5-HT-challenge. Our results suggest that serotonergic homoeostatic control of the temporal dynamics in limbic regions is altered in adults with ASD, and provide a fresh perspective on the biology of ASD.
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González Ponce BM, Díaz-Batanero C, Vera BDV, Dacosta-Sánchez D, Fernández-Calderón F. Personality traits and their association with drug use and harm reduction strategies among polysubstance users who attend music festivals. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2019.1672818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carmen Díaz-Batanero
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Psychology, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain
- Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | | | | | - Fermín Fernández-Calderón
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Psychology, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain
- Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain
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7
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Sparks DW, Tian MK, Sargin D, Venkatesan S, Intson K, Lambe EK. Opposing Cholinergic and Serotonergic Modulation of Layer 6 in Prefrontal Cortex. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 11:107. [PMID: 29354034 PMCID: PMC5758509 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Prefrontal cortex is a hub for attention processing and receives abundant innervation from cholinergic and serotonergic afferents. A growing body of evidence suggests that acetylcholine (ACh) and serotonin (5-HT) have opposing influences on tasks requiring attention, but the underlying neurophysiology of their opposition is unclear. One candidate target population is medial prefrontal layer 6 pyramidal neurons, which provide feedback modulation of the thalamus, as well as feed-forward excitation of cortical interneurons. Here, we assess the response of these neurons to ACh and 5-HT using whole cell recordings in acute brain slices from mouse cortex. With application of exogenous agonists, we show that individual layer 6 pyramidal neurons are bidirectionally-modulated, with ACh and 5-HT exerting opposite effects on excitability across a number of concentrations. Next, we tested the responses of layer 6 pyramidal neurons to optogenetic release of endogenous ACh or 5-HT. These experiments were performed in brain slices from transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin in either ChAT-expressing cholinergic neurons or Pet1-expressing serotonergic neurons. Light-evoked endogenous neuromodulation recapitulated the effects of exogenous neurotransmitters, showing opposing modulation of layer 6 pyramidal neurons by ACh and 5-HT. Lastly, the addition of 5-HT to either endogenous or exogenous ACh significantly suppressed the excitation of pyramidal neurons in prefrontal layer 6. Taken together, this work suggests that the major corticothalamic layer of prefrontal cortex is a substrate for opposing modulatory influences on neuronal activity that could have implications for regulation of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Sparks
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael K Tian
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Derya Sargin
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Katheron Intson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Evelyn K Lambe
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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8
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Trotter PD, McGlone F, McKie S, McFarquhar M, Elliott R, Walker SC, Deakin JFW. Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on central processing of CT-targeted and discriminatory touch in humans. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 44:2072-83. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Diane Trotter
- Research Centre in Brain and Behaviour; School of Natural Sciences & Psychology; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - Francis McGlone
- Research Centre in Brain and Behaviour; School of Natural Sciences & Psychology; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
- Institute of Psychology, Health and Society; University of Liverpool; Liverpool UK
| | - Shane McKie
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit; The University of Manchester; Manchester UK
| | - Martyn McFarquhar
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit; The University of Manchester; Manchester UK
| | - Rebecca Elliott
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit; The University of Manchester; Manchester UK
| | - Susannah Claire Walker
- Research Centre in Brain and Behaviour; School of Natural Sciences & Psychology; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
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Dissociable brain correlates for depression, anxiety, dissociation, and somatization in depersonalization-derealization disorder. CNS Spectr 2016; 21:35-42. [PMID: 24059962 DOI: 10.1017/s1092852913000588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The cerebral mechanisms of traits associated with depersonalization-derealization disorder (DPRD) remain poorly understood. METHOD Happy and sad emotion expressions were presented to DPRD and non-referred control (NC) subjects in an implicit event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) design, and correlated with self report scales reflecting typical co-morbidities of DPRD: depression, dissociation, anxiety, somatization. RESULTS Significant differences between the slopes of the two groups were observed for somatization in the right temporal operculum (happy) and ventral striatum, bilaterally (sad). Discriminative regions for symptoms of depression were the right pulvinar (happy) and left amygdala (sad). For dissociation, discriminative regions were the left mesial inferior temporal gyrus (happy) and left supramarginal gyrus (sad). For state anxiety, discriminative regions were the left inferior frontal gyrus (happy) and parahippocampal gyrus (sad). For trait anxiety, discriminative regions were the right caudate head (happy) and left superior temporal gyrus (sad). Discussion The ascertained brain regions are in line with previous findings for the respective traits. The findings suggest separate brain systems for each trait. CONCLUSION Our results do not justify any bias for a certain nosological category in DPRD.
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10
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Weinstein JJ, Rogers BP, Taylor WD, Boyd BD, Cowan RL, Shelton KM, Salomon RM. Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on raphé functional connectivity in depression. Psychiatry Res 2015; 234:164-71. [PMID: 26411798 PMCID: PMC4631618 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Depression remains a great societal burden and a major treatment challenge. Most antidepressant medications target serotonergic raphé nuclei. Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) modulates serotonin function. To better understand the raphé's role in mood networks, we studied raphé functional connectivity in depression. Fifteen depressed patients were treated with sertraline for 12 weeks and scanned during ATD and sham conditions. Based on our previous findings in a separate cohort, resting state MRI functional connectivity between raphé and other depression-related regions (ROIs) was analyzed in narrow frequency bands. ATD decreased raphé functional connectivity with the bilateral thalamus within 0.025-0.05 Hz, and also decreased raphé functional connectivity with the right pregenual anterior cingulate cortex within 0.05-0.1 Hz. Using the control broadband filter 0.01-0.1 Hz, no significant differences in raphé-ROI functional connectivity were observed. Post-hoc analysis by remission status suggested increased raphé functional connectivity with left pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in remitters (n=10) and decreased raphé functional connectivity with left thalamus in non-remitters (n=5), both within 0.025-0.05 Hz. Reducing serotonin function appears to alter coordination of these mood-related networks in specific, low frequency ranges. For examination of effects of reduced serotonin function on mood-related networks, specific low frequency BOLD fMRI signals can identify regions implicated in neural circuitry and may enable clinically-relevant interpretation of functional connectivity measures. The biological significance of these low frequency signals detected in the raphé merits further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi J. Weinstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
(VUMC), Nashville, TN, USA,Correspondence to: Columbia University Medical Center,
Department of Psychiatry and New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive,
New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Baxter P. Rogers
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
(VUMC), Nashville, TN, USA,Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, VUMC,
Nashville, TN, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University
| | - Warren D. Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
(VUMC), Nashville, TN, USA,The Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC),
VA Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, USA
| | - Brian D. Boyd
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
(VUMC), Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ronald L. Cowan
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
(VUMC), Nashville, TN, USA,Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, VUMC,
Nashville, TN, USA
| | - K. Maureen Shelton
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
(VUMC), Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ronald M. Salomon
- Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA,Correspondence to: University of Arkansas Medical School
Psychiatric Research Institute, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 554, Little Rock, AR 72205,
USA. (J.J. Weinstein)
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11
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Biskup CS, Gaber T, Helmbold K, Bubenzer-Busch S, Zepf FD. Amino acid challenge and depletion techniques in human functional neuroimaging studies: an overview. Amino Acids 2015; 47:651-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-015-1919-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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12
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Attwood AS, Munafò MR. Effects of acute alcohol consumption and processing of emotion in faces: Implications for understanding alcohol-related aggression. J Psychopharmacol 2014; 28:719-32. [PMID: 24920135 PMCID: PMC4962899 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114536476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The negative consequences of chronic alcohol abuse are well known, but heavy episodic consumption ("binge drinking") is also associated with significant personal and societal harms. Aggressive tendencies are increased after alcohol but the mechanisms underlying these changes are not fully understood. While effects on behavioural control are likely to be important, other effects may be involved given the widespread action of alcohol. Altered processing of social signals is associated with changes in social behaviours, including aggression, but until recently there has been little research investigating the effects of acute alcohol consumption on these outcomes. Recent work investigating the effects of acute alcohol on emotional face processing has suggested reduced sensitivity to submissive signals (sad faces) and increased perceptual bias towards provocative signals (angry faces) after alcohol consumption, which may play a role in alcohol-related aggression. Here we discuss a putative mechanism that may explain how alcohol consumption influences emotional processing and subsequent aggressive responding, via disruption of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)-amygdala connectivity. While the importance of emotional processing on social behaviours is well established, research into acute alcohol consumption and emotional processing is still in its infancy. Further research is needed and we outline a research agenda to address gaps in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela S Attwood
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, Bristol, UK School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Marcus R Munafò
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, Bristol, UK School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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13
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Daly E, Ecker C, Hallahan B, Deeley Q, Craig M, Murphy C, Johnston P, Spain D, Gillan N, Gudbrandsen M, Brammer M, Giampietro V, Lamar M, Page L, Toal F, Schmitz N, Cleare A, Robertson D, Rubia K, Murphy DGM. Response inhibition and serotonin in autism: a functional MRI study using acute tryptophan depletion. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 137:2600-10. [PMID: 25070512 PMCID: PMC4132649 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Stereotyped, repetitive behaviours in autism may reflect deficits in serotonin-modulated inhibitory control. Daly et al. use fMRI to compare the effects of acute tryptophan depletion in adult males with autism and controls performing the Go/No-Go task. Opposite effects are seen in the two groups, consistent with altered inhibition in autism. It has been suggested that the restricted, stereotyped and repetitive behaviours typically found in autism are underpinned by deficits of inhibitory control. The biological basis of this is unknown but may include differences in the modulatory role of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which are implicated in the condition. However, this has never been tested directly. We therefore assessed the modifying role of serotonin on inhibitory brain function during a Go/No-Go task in 14 adults with autism and normal intelligence and 14 control subjects that did not differ in gender, age and intelligence. We undertook a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of acute tryptophan depletion using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Following sham, adults with autism relative to controls had reduced activation in key inhibitory regions of inferior frontal cortex and thalamus, but increased activation of caudate and cerebellum. However, brain activation was modulated in opposite ways by depletion in each group. Within autistic individuals depletion upregulated fronto-thalamic activations and downregulated striato-cerebellar activations toward control sham levels, completely ‘normalizing’ the fronto-cerebellar dysfunctions. The opposite pattern occurred in controls. Moreover, the severity of autism was related to the degree of differential modulation by depletion within frontal, striatal and thalamic regions. Our findings demonstrate that individuals with autism have abnormal inhibitory networks, and that serotonin has a differential, opposite, effect on them in adults with and without autism. Together these factors may partially explain the severity of autistic behaviours and/or provide a novel (tractable) treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Daly
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Christine Ecker
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Brian Hallahan
- 2 Department of Psychiatry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Quinton Deeley
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Michael Craig
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Clodagh Murphy
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Patrick Johnston
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Debbie Spain
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Nicola Gillan
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Maria Gudbrandsen
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Michael Brammer
- 3 Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Vincent Giampietro
- 3 Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Melissa Lamar
- 4 Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
| | - Lisa Page
- 5 Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
| | - Fiona Toal
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Nicole Schmitz
- 6 Dementia Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
| | - Anthony Cleare
- 7 Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Dene Robertson
- 8 Behavioural and Developmental Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation
| | - Katya Rubia
- 9 Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- 1 Sackler Institute of Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
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14
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Robinson OJ, Overstreet C, Allen PS, Letkiewicz A, Vytal K, Pine DS, Grillon C. The role of serotonin in the neurocircuitry of negative affective bias: serotonergic modulation of the dorsal medial prefrontal-amygdala 'aversive amplification' circuit. Neuroimage 2013; 78:217-23. [PMID: 23583742 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.03.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonergic medications can mitigate the negative affective biases in disorders such as depression or anxiety, but the neural mechanism by which this occurs is largely unknown. In line with recent advances demonstrating that negative affective biases may be driven by specific medial prefrontal-amygdala circuitry, we asked whether serotonin manipulation can alter affective processing within a key dorsal medial prefrontal-amygdala circuit: the putative human homologue of the rodent prelimbic-amygdala circuit or 'aversive amplification' circuit. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pharmaco-fMRI design, subjects (N=19) performed a forced-choice face identification task with word distractors in an fMRI scanner over two separate sessions. On one session subjects received dietary depletion of the serotonin precursor tryptophan while on the other session they received a balanced placebo control diet. Results showed that dorsal medial prefrontal responding was elevated in response to fearful relative to happy faces under depletion but not placebo. This negative bias under depletion was accompanied by a corresponding increase in positive dorsal medial prefrontal-amygdala functional connectivity. We therefore conclude that serotonin depletion engages a prefrontal-amygdala circuit during the processing of fearful relative to happy face stimuli. This same 'aversive amplification' circuit is also engaged during anxiety induced by shock anticipation. As such, serotonergic projections may inhibit engagement of the 'aversive amplification' circuit and dysfunction in this projection may contribute to the negative affective bias in mood and anxiety disorders. These findings thus provide a promising explanation for the role of serotonin and serotonergic medications in the neurocircuitry of negative affective bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Robinson
- Section on Neurobiology of Fear and Anxiety, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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15
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Woudstra S, Bochdanovits Z, van Tol MJ, Veltman DJ, Zitman FG, van Buchem MA, van der Wee NJ, Opmeer EM, Demenescu LR, Aleman A, Penninx BW, Hoogendijk WJ. Piccolo genotype modulates neural correlates of emotion processing but not executive functioning. Transl Psychiatry 2012; 2:e99. [PMID: 22832909 PMCID: PMC3337071 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2012.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by affective symptoms and cognitive impairments, which have been associated with changes in limbic and prefrontal activity as well as with monoaminergic neurotransmission. A genome-wide association study implicated the polymorphism rs2522833 in the piccolo (PCLO) gene--involved in monoaminergic neurotransmission--as a risk factor for MDD. However, the role of the PCLO risk allele in emotion processing and executive function or its effect on their neural substrate has never been studied. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate PCLO risk allele carriers vs noncarriers during an emotional face processing task and a visuospatial planning task in 159 current MDD patients and healthy controls. In PCLO risk allele carriers, we found increased activity in the left amygdala during processing of angry and sad faces compared with noncarriers, independent of psychopathological status. During processing of fearful faces, the PCLO risk allele was associated with increased amygdala activation in MDD patients only. During the visuospatial planning task, we found no genotype effect on performance or on BOLD signal in our predefined areas as a function of increasing task load. The PCLO risk allele was found to be specifically associated with altered emotion processing, but not with executive dysfunction. Moreover, the PCLO risk allele appears to modulate amygdala function during fearful facial processing in MDD and may constitute a possible link between genotype and susceptibility for depression via altered processing of fearful stimuli. The current results may therefore aid in better understanding underlying neurobiological mechanisms in MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Woudstra
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Z Bochdanovits
- Department of Medical Genomics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M-J van Tol
- BCN Neuroimaging Center and Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands,Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - D J Veltman
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F G Zitman
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - M A van Buchem
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - N J van der Wee
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - E M Opmeer
- BCN Neuroimaging Center and Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - L R Demenescu
- BCN Neuroimaging Center and Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - A Aleman
- BCN Neuroimaging Center and Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands,Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - B W Penninx
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,BCN Neuroimaging Center and Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - W J Hoogendijk
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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16
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Passamonti L, Crockett MJ, Apergis-Schoute AM, Clark L, Rowe JB, Calder AJ, Robbins TW. Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on prefrontal-amygdala connectivity while viewing facial signals of aggression. Biol Psychiatry 2012; 71:36-43. [PMID: 21920502 PMCID: PMC3368260 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2011] [Revised: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduced levels of serotonin (5-HT) within prefrontal cortex (PFC)-amygdala circuits have long been implicated in impulsive aggression. However, whether lowering 5-HT alters the dynamic interplay between the PFC and the amygdala has not been directly tested in humans. It is known that manipulating 5-HT via acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) causes variable effects on brain responses to a variety of emotional stimuli, but it remains unclear whether ATD affects functional connectivity in neural networks involved in processing social signals of aggression (e.g., angry faces). METHODS Thirty healthy individuals were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ATD study. On each treatment, brain responses to angry, sad, and neutral faces were measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Two methods (psycho-physiological-interaction in a general linear model and dynamic causal modeling) were used to assess the impact of ATD on the functional connectivity between PFC and amygdala. RESULTS Data from 19 subjects were available for the final analyses. A whole-brain psycho-physiological-interaction in a general linear model showed that ATD significantly modulated the connectivity between the amygdala and two PFC regions (ventral anterior cingulate cortex and ventrolateral PFC) when processing angry vs. neutral and angry vs. sad but not sad vs. neutral faces. Dynamic causal modeling corroborated and extended these findings by showing that 5-HT depletion reduced the influence of processing angry vs. neutral faces on circuits within PFC and on PFC-amygdala pathways. CONCLUSIONS We provide strong support for neurobiological accounts positing that 5-HT significantly influences PFC-amygdala circuits implicated in aggression and other affective behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Passamonti
- Unità di Ricerca Neuroimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Catanzaro, Italy.
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17
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Brühl AB, Jäncke L, Herwig U. Differential modulation of emotion processing brain regions by noradrenergic and serotonergic antidepressants. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 216:389-99. [PMID: 21359508 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-011-2227-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2010] [Accepted: 02/11/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Most widely used antidepressant drugs affect the serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways. However, there are currently no neurobiological criteria for selecting between these targets and predicting the treatment response in individual depressed patients. OBJECTIVES The current study is aimed at differentiating brain regions known to be pathophysiologically and functionally involved in depression-related emotion processing with respect to their susceptibility to serotonergic and noradrenergic modulation. METHODS In a single-blind pseudo-randomized crossover study, 16 healthy subjects (out of 21 enrolled) were included in analysis after ingesting a single dose of citalopram (a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor, 40 mg), reboxetine (a selective noradrenaline-reuptake inhibitor, 8 mg), or placebo at three time points prior to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). During fMRI, subjects anticipated and subsequently viewed emotional pictures. Effects of serotonergic and noradrenergic modulation versus placebo on brain activity during the perception of negative pictures were analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA in the whole brain and in specific regions of interest relevant to depression. RESULTS Noradrenergic modulation by reboxetine increased brain activity in the thalamus, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and occipital regions during the perception of negative emotional stimuli. Citalopram primarily affected the ventrolateral prefrontal cortical regions. CONCLUSION The brain regions involved in the processing of negative emotional stimuli were differentially modulated by selective noradrenergic and serotonergic drugs: thalamic activity was increased by reboxetine, whereas citalopram primarily affected ventrolateral prefrontal regions. Thus, dysfunction in these regions, which could be identified in depressed patients, may predict treatment responses to either noradrenergic or serotonergic antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Beatrix Brühl
- Clinic for General and Social Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich, Militärstrasse 8, Zürich, Switzerland.
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18
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Abstract
Brain serotonergic circuitries interact with other neurotransmitter systems on a multitude of different molecular levels. In humans, as in other mammalian species, serotonin (5-HT) plays a modulatory role in almost every physiological function. Furthermore, serotonergic dysfunction is thought to be implicated in several psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. We describe the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of brain serotonergic circuitries. The contribution of emergent in vivo imaging methods to the regional localization of binding site receptors and certain aspects of their functional connectivity in correlation to behavior is also discussed. 5-HT cell bodies, mainly localized in the raphe nuclei, send axons to almost every brain region. It is argued that the specificity of the local chemocommunication between 5-HT and other neuronal elements mainly depends on mechanisms regulating the extracellular concentration of 5-HT the diversity of high-affinity membrane receptors, and their specific transduction modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves Charnay
- Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Département de Psychiatrie, Service de Neuropsychiatrie, Ch. Du Petit-Bel-Air, 2, CH-1225 Chêne-Bourg, Switzerland.
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