RATIONALE: Genotype at the 5' promoter region (5-HTTLPR) of the serotonin transporter has been implicated in moderating the effects of acute tryptophan depletion on neurocognitive functioning. Acute tryptophan depletion has been associated with the processing of fear-relevant cues, such as emotional expressions, but the effect of genotype at the 5-HTTLPR has not been assessed. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the effects of acute tryptophan depletion on the recognition of standardized facial expressions of emotions in healthy volunteers classified as ll homozygotes or s carriers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A double-blind between-groups design was used with volunteers randomly selected to ingest capsules containing an amino acid mixture specifically lacking tryptophan, or placebo capsules containing lactose. 5 h after capsule ingestion, subjects were required to identify anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise expressions that progressed from neutral to each full emotional expression in 5% steps. RESULTS: Tryptophan depletion significantly impaired the recognition of fearful facial expressions in s carriers but not ll homozygotes. This impairment was specific to fear expressions. No significant differences in the recognition of other expressions were found. Free tryptophan levels were correlated with fear recognition in s carriers but not ll homozygotes. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of acute tryptophan depletion on the processing of emotional expressions varies as a function of genotype at the 5-HTTLPR. Depletion impairs the recognition of fear in s carriers but not ll homozygotes. This finding reinforces the importance of considering genotype when assessing the behavioral effects of pharmacologic modulation.
RCT Entities:
RATIONALE: Genotype at the 5' promoter region (5-HTTLPR) of the serotonin transporter has been implicated in moderating the effects of acute tryptophan depletion on neurocognitive functioning. Acute tryptophan depletion has been associated with the processing of fear-relevant cues, such as emotional expressions, but the effect of genotype at the 5-HTTLPR has not been assessed. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the effects of acute tryptophan depletion on the recognition of standardized facial expressions of emotions in healthy volunteers classified as ll homozygotes or s carriers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A double-blind between-groups design was used with volunteers randomly selected to ingest capsules containing an amino acid mixture specifically lacking tryptophan, or placebo capsules containing lactose. 5 h after capsule ingestion, subjects were required to identify anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise expressions that progressed from neutral to each full emotional expression in 5% steps. RESULTS:Tryptophan depletion significantly impaired the recognition of fearful facial expressions in s carriers but not ll homozygotes. This impairment was specific to fear expressions. No significant differences in the recognition of other expressions were found. Free tryptophan levels were correlated with fear recognition in s carriers but not ll homozygotes. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of acute tryptophan depletion on the processing of emotional expressions varies as a function of genotype at the 5-HTTLPR. Depletion impairs the recognition of fear in s carriers but not ll homozygotes. This finding reinforces the importance of considering genotype when assessing the behavioral effects of pharmacologic modulation.
Authors: R Adolphs; D Tranel; S Hamann; A W Young; A J Calder; E A Phelps; A Anderson; G P Lee; A R Damasio Journal: Neuropsychologia Date: 1999-09 Impact factor: 3.139
Authors: Ahmad R Hariri; Venkata S Mattay; Alessandro Tessitore; Bhaskar Kolachana; Francesco Fera; David Goldman; Michael F Egan; Daniel R Weinberger Journal: Science Date: 2002-07-19 Impact factor: 47.728
Authors: Roshan Cools; Andy J Calder; Andrew D Lawrence; Luke Clark; Ed Bullmore; Trevor W Robbins Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2005-09-14 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Jonathan P Roiser; Andrew D Blackwell; Roshan Cools; Luke Clark; David C Rubinsztein; Trevor W Robbins; Barbara J Sahakian Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2006-03-15 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Eileen Daly; Quinton Deeley; Brian Hallahan; Michael Craig; Michael Brammer; Melissa Lamar; Anthony Cleare; Vincent Giampietro; Christine Ecker; Lisa Page; Fiona Toal; Mary L Phillips; Simon Surguladze; Declan G M Murphy Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2010-04-28 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Rachel H Jacobs; Daniel S Pine; Michael E Schoeny; David B Henry; Jackie K Gollan; Gregory Moy; Edwin H Cook; Lauren S Wakschlag Journal: Behav Res Ther Date: 2010-10-28
Authors: K S Blair; E Finger; A A Marsh; J Morton; K Mondillo; B Buzas; D Goldman; W C Drevets; R J R Blair Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2007-10-17 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Bryan Maloney; Balmiki Ray; Elizabeth P Hayden; John I Nurnberger; Debomoy K Lahiri Journal: Psychiatr Genet Date: 2009-04 Impact factor: 2.458
Authors: Lauren S Wakschlag; Susan B Perlman; R James Blair; Ellen Leibenluft; Margaret J Briggs-Gowan; Daniel S Pine Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2017-11-17 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Philipp T Neukam; Nils B Kroemer; Yacila I Deza Araujo; Lydia Hellrung; Shakoor Pooseh; Marcella Rietschel; Stephanie H Witt; Uwe Schwarzenbolz; Thomas Henle; Michael N Smolka Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2018-05-05 Impact factor: 4.530