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da Cunha-Bang S, Frokjaer VG, Mc Mahon B, Jensen PS, Svarer C, Knudsen GM. The association between brain serotonin transporter binding and impulsivity and aggression in healthy individuals. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 165:1-6. [PMID: 37441926 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The serotonin system plays a critical role in the modulation of impulsive aggression. Although serotonin transporters (SERT) are key in modulating synaptic serotonin levels, few studies have investigated the role of SERT levels in human impulsive aggression. The aim of this study was to investigate whether brain SERT levels are associated with trait impulsive aggression. We included 148 healthy individuals (mean age 29.3 ± 13.0, range 18-80 years, 91 females) who had undergone positron emission positron (PET) examinations with the SERT tracer [11C]DASB and filled in self-report questionnaires of trait aggression, trait impulsivity and state aggression. We evaluated the association between cerebral SERT binding (BPND) and trait impulsive aggression in a latent variable model, with one latent variable (LVSERT) modelled from SERT BPND in frontostriatal and frontolimbic networks implicated in impulsive aggression, and another latent variable (LVIA) modelled from various trait measures of impulsivity and aggression. The LVSERT was not significantly associated with the LVIA (p = 0.8). Post-hoc univariate analyses did not reveal any significant associations between regional SERT levels and trait aggression, trait impulsivity or state aggression, but we found that state aggression at the day of PET scan was significantly lower in LA/LA homozygotes vs S-carriers of the 5-HTTLPR gene (p = 0.008). We conclude that brain SERT binding was not related to variations in trait impulsive aggression or state aggression. Our findings do not support that SERT is involved in mediating the serotonergic effects on aggression and impulsivity, at least not in individuals with non-pathological levels of impulsive aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofi da Cunha-Bang
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark; Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Vibe G Frokjaer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Brenda Mc Mahon
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Peter Steen Jensen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Claus Svarer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Gitte Moos Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Mc Mahon B, Nørgaard M, Svarer C, Andersen SB, Madsen MK, Baaré WFC, Madsen J, Frokjaer VG, Knudsen GM. Seasonality-resilient individuals downregulate their cerebral 5-HT transporter binding in winter - A longitudinal combined 11C-DASB and 11C-SB207145 PET study. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2018; 28:1151-1160. [PMID: 30077433 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We have recently shown that the emergence and severity of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) symptoms in the winter is associated with an increase in cerebral serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) binding. Intriguingly, we also found that individuals resilient to SAD downregulate their cerebral SERT binding in the winter. In the present paper, we provide an analysis of the SERT- and 5-HT dynamics as indexed by 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) binding related to successful stress coping. We included 46 11C-DASB positron emission tomography (PET) scans (N = 23, 13 women, age: 26 ± 6 years) and 14 11C-SB207145 PET scans (7 participants, 3 women, age: 25 ± 3 years) from 23 SAD-resilient Danes. Data was collected longitudinally in summer and winter. We found that compared to the summer, raphe nuclei and global brain SERT binding decreased significantly in the winter (praphe = 0.003 and pglobal = 0.003) and the two measures were positively correlated across seasons (summer: R2 = 0.33, p = .004, winter: R2 = 0.24, p = .018). A voxel-based analysis revealed prominent changes in SERT in clusters covering both angular gyri (0.0005 < pcorrected < 0.0016), prefrontal cortices (0.00087 < pcorrected < 0.0039) and the posterior temporal and adjacent occipital cortices (0.0001 < pcorrected < 0.0066). We did not observe changes in 5-HT4R binding, suggesting that 5-HT levels remained stable across seasons. We conclude that resilience to SAD is associated with a global downregulation of SERT levels in winter which serves to keep 5-HT levels across seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Mc Mahon
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Martin Nørgaard
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Svarer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofie B Andersen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin K Madsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - William F C Baaré
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Kettegårds Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Jacob Madsen
- PET and Cyclotron Unit, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vibe G Frokjaer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gitte M Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Borgsted C, Ozenne B, Mc Mahon B, Madsen MK, Hjordt LV, Hageman I, Baaré WFC, Knudsen GM, Fisher PM. Amygdala response to emotional faces in seasonal affective disorder. J Affect Disord 2018; 229:288-295. [PMID: 29329062 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by seasonally recurring depression. Heightened amygdala activation to aversive stimuli is associated with major depressive disorder but its relation to SAD is unclear. We evaluated seasonal variation in amygdala activation in SAD and healthy controls (HC) using a longitudinal design targeting the asymptomatic/symptomatic phases of SAD. We hypothesized increased amygdala activation to aversive stimuli in the winter in SAD individuals (season-by-group interaction). METHODS Seventeen SAD individuals and 15 HCs completed an implicit emotional faces BOLD-fMRI paradigm during summer and winter. We computed amygdala activation (SPM5) to an aversive contrast (angry & fearful minus neutral) and angry, fearful and neutral faces, separately. Season-by-group and main effects were evaluated using Generalized Least Squares. In SAD individuals, we correlated change in symptom severity, assessed with The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression - Seasonal Affective Disorder version (SIGH-SAD), with change in amygdala activation. RESULTS We found no season-by-group, season or group effect on our aversive contrast. Independent of season, SAD individuals showed significantly lower amygdala activation to all faces compared to healthy controls, with no evidence for a season-by-group interaction. Seasonal change in amygdala activation was unrelated to change in SIGH-SAD. LIMITATIONS Small sample size, lack of positive valence stimuli. CONCLUSIONS Amygdala activation to aversive faces is not increased in symptomatic SAD individuals. Instead, we observed decreased amygdala activation across faces, independent of season. Our findings suggest that amygdala activation to angry, fearful and neutral faces is altered in SAD individuals, independent of the presence of depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Borgsted
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brice Ozenne
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brenda Mc Mahon
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin K Madsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Liv V Hjordt
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Hageman
- Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - William F C Baaré
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Kettegård Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Gitte M Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Patrick M Fisher
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Section 6931, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Hjordt LV, Stenbæk DS, Ozenne B, Mc Mahon B, Hageman I, Hasselbalch SG, Knudsen GM. Season-independent cognitive deficits in seasonal affective disorder and their relation to depressive symptoms. Psychiatry Res 2017; 257:219-226. [PMID: 28780278 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Although cognitive impairments are common in depressed individuals, it is unclear which aspects of cognition are affected and whether they represent state or trait features of depression. We here exploited a naturalistic model, namely the seasonal fluctuations in depressed status in individuals with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), to study depression-related cognition, longitudinally. Twenty-nine medication-free individuals diagnosed with winter-SAD and 30 demographically matched healthy controls with no seasonality symptoms completed the Letter-number Sequencing task (LNS), the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Simple Reaction Time (SRT) twice; in summer and in winter. Compared to controls, SAD individuals showed significant season-independent impairments in tasks measuring working memory (LNS), cognitive processing speed (SDMT) and motor speed (SRT). In SAD individuals, cognitive processing speed was significantly negatively associated with the seasonal change in SAD depressive symptoms. We present novel evidence that in SAD individuals, working memory, cognitive processing- and motor speed is not only impaired in the winter but also in the summer. This suggests that certain cognitive impairments are SAD traits. Furthermore, impairments in cognitive processing speed appear to be related to depressive symptoms in SAD. Reduced processing speed may thus constitute a SAD vulnerability trait marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liv Vadskjær Hjordt
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, the Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Dea Siggaard Stenbæk
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, the Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Brice Ozenne
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Section of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, 5 Øster Farimagsgade, Entrance B, 2nd floor, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Brenda Mc Mahon
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, the Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ida Hageman
- Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, 10 Edel Sauntes Allé, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Steen Gregers Hasselbalch
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, the Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Gitte Moos Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, the Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Hjordt LV, Stenbæk DS, Madsen KS, Mc Mahon B, Jensen CG, Vestergaard M, Hageman I, Meder D, Hasselbalch SG, Knudsen GM. State-dependent alterations in inhibitory control and emotional face identification in seasonal affective disorder. J Abnorm Psychol 2017; 126:291-300. [PMID: 28182445 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depressed individuals often exhibit impaired inhibition to negative input and identification of positive stimuli, but it is unclear whether this is a state or trait feature. We here exploited a naturalistic model, namely individuals with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), to study this feature longitudinally. AIM The goal of this study was to examine seasonal changes in inhibitory control and identification of emotional faces in individuals with SAD. METHOD Twenty-nine individuals diagnosed with winter-SAD and 30 demographically matched controls with no seasonality symptoms completed an emotional Go/NoGo task, requiring inhibition of prepotent responses to emotional facial expressions and an emotional face identification task twice, in winter and summer. RESULTS In winter, individuals with SAD showed impaired ability to inhibit responses to angry (p = .0006) and sad faces (p = .011), and decreased identification of happy faces (p = .032) compared with controls. In summer, individuals with SAD and controls performed similarly on these tasks (ps > .24). CONCLUSION We provide novel evidence that inhibition of angry and sad faces and identification of happy faces are impaired in SAD in the symptomatic phase, but not in the remitted phase. The affective biases in cognitive processing constitute state-dependent features of SAD. Our data show that reinstatement of a normal affective cognition should be possible and would constitute a major goal in psychiatric treatment to improve the quality of life for these patients. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kathrine Skak Madsen
- Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet
| | | | | | - Martin Vestergaard
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre
| | - Ida Hageman
- Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital
| | - David Meder
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre
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Macoveanu J, Fisher PM, Madsen MK, Mc Mahon B, Knudsen GM, Siebner HR. Bright-light intervention induces a dose-dependent increase in striatal response to risk in healthy volunteers. Neuroimage 2016; 139:37-43. [PMID: 27318214 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bright-light interventions have successfully been used to reduce depression symptoms in patients with seasonal affective disorder, a depressive disorder most frequently occurring during seasons with reduced daylight availability. Yet, little is known about how light exposure impacts human brain function, for instance on risk taking, a process affected in depressive disorders. Here we examined the modulatory effects of bright-light exposure on brain activity during a risk-taking task. Thirty-two healthy male volunteers living in the greater Copenhagen area received 3weeks of bright-light intervention during the winter season. Adopting a double-blinded dose-response design, bright-light was applied for 30minutes continuously every morning. The individual dose varied between 100 and 11.000lx. Whole-brain functional MRI was performed before and after bright-light intervention to probe how the intervention modifies risk-taking related neural activity during a two-choice gambling task. We also assessed whether inter-individual differences in the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotype influenced the effects of bright-light intervention on risk processing. Bright-light intervention led to a dose-dependent increase in risk-taking in the LA/LA group relative to the non-LA/LA group. Further, bright-light intervention enhanced risk-related activity in ventral striatum and head of caudate nucleus in proportion with the individual bright-light dose. The augmentation effect of light exposure on striatal risk processing was not influenced by the 5-HTTLPR-genotype. This study provides novel evidence that in healthy non-depressive individuals bright-light intervention increases striatal processing to risk in a dose-dependent fashion. The findings provide converging evidence that risk processing is sensitive to bright-light exposure during winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Macoveanu
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark; Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Patrick M Fisher
- Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin K Madsen
- Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brenda Mc Mahon
- Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gitte M Knudsen
- Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hartwig R Siebner
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Mc Mahon B, Andersen SB, Madsen MK, Hjordt LV, Hageman I, Dam H, Svarer C, da Cunha-Bang S, Baaré W, Madsen J, Hasholt L, Holst K, Frokjaer VG, Knudsen GM. Seasonal difference in brain serotonin transporter binding predicts symptom severity in patients with seasonal affective disorder. Brain 2016; 139:1605-14. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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da Cunha-Bang S, Mc Mahon B, Fisher PM, Jensen PS, Svarer C, Knudsen GM. High trait aggression in men is associated with low 5-HT levels, as indexed by 5-HT4 receptor binding. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2016; 11:548-55. [PMID: 26772668 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Impulsive aggression has commonly been associated with a dysfunction of the serotonin (5-HT) system: many, but not all, studies point to an inverse relationship between 5-HT and aggression. As cerebral 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) binding has recently been recognized as a proxy for stable brain levels of 5-HT, we here test the hypothesis in healthy men and women that brain 5-HT levels, as indexed by cerebral 5-HT4R, are inversely correlated with trait aggression and impulsivity. Sixty-one individuals (47 men) underwent positron emission tomography scanning with the radioligand [(11)C]SB207145 for quantification of brain 5-HT4R binding. The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale were used for assessment of trait aggression and trait impulsivity. Among male subjects, there was a positive correlation between global 5-HT4R and BPAQ total score (P = 0.037) as well as BPAQ physical aggression (P = 0.025). No main effect of global 5-HT4R on trait aggression or impulsivity was found in the mixed gender sample, but there was evidence for sex interaction effects in the relationship between global 5-HT4R and BPAQ physical aggression. In conclusion we found that low cerebral 5-HT levels, as indexed by 5-HT4R binding were associated with high trait aggression in males, but not in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofi da Cunha-Bang
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Copenhagen, Denmark and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brenda Mc Mahon
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Copenhagen, Denmark and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Patrick MacDonald Fisher
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Copenhagen, Denmark and
| | - Peter Steen Jensen
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Copenhagen, Denmark and
| | - Claus Svarer
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Copenhagen, Denmark and
| | - Gitte Moos Knudsen
- Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Copenhagen, Denmark and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Madsen MK, Mc Mahon B, Andersen SB, Siebner HR, Knudsen GM, Fisher PM. Threat-related amygdala functional connectivity is associated with 5-HTTLPR genotype and neuroticism. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2015; 11:140-9. [PMID: 26245837 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Communication between the amygdala and other brain regions critically regulates sensitivity to threat, which has been associated with risk for mood and affective disorders. The extent to which these neural pathways are genetically determined or correlate with risk-related personality measures is not fully understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we evaluated independent and interactive effects of the 5-HTTLPR genotype and neuroticism on amygdala functional connectivity during an emotional faces paradigm in 76 healthy individuals. Functional connectivity between left amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and between both amygdalae and a cluster including posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus and visual cortex was significantly increased in 5-HTTLPR S' allele carriers relative to L(A)L(A) individuals. Neuroticism was negatively correlated with functional connectivity between right amygdala and mPFC and visual cortex, and between both amygdalae and left lateral orbitofrontal (lOFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC). Notably, 5-HTTLPR moderated the association between neuroticism and functional connectivity between both amygdalae and left lOFC/vlPFC, such that S' carriers exhibited a more negative association relative to L(A)L(A) individuals. These findings provide novel evidence for both independent and interactive effects of 5-HTTLPR genotype and neuroticism on amygdala communication, which may mediate effects on risk for mood and affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Korsbak Madsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
| | - Brenda Mc Mahon
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
| | - Sofie Bech Andersen
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
| | - Hartwig Roman Siebner
- Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark, Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark, and Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, 2400 Copenhagen NW, Denmark
| | - Gitte Moos Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark,
| | - Patrick MacDonald Fisher
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
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Fisher PM, Holst KK, Mc Mahon B, Haahr ME, Madsen K, Gillings N, Baaré WF, Jensen PS, Knudsen GM. 5-HTTLPR status predictive of neocortical 5-HT4 binding assessed with [11C]SB207145 PET in humans. Neuroimage 2012; 62:130-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Revised: 03/19/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
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