The effect of 5-HTTLPR and a serotonergic multi-marker score on amygdala, prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex reactivity and habituation in a large, healthy fMRI cohort

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by low mood for at least two weeks. Impaired emotion regulation has been suggested to be the consequence of dysfunctional serotonergic regulation of limbic and prefrontal regions, especially the amygdala, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The impact of genetic variation on brain function can be investigated with intermediate phenotypes. A suggested intermediate phenotype of MDD is emotion recognition: The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of SLC6A4 as well as other serotonergic genes have been associated with amygdala and prefrontal function during emotion recognition.

Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - January 19, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: J.H. Piel, T.A. Lett, C. Wackerhagen, M.M. Plichta, S. Mohnke, O. Grimm, N. Romanczuk-Seiferth, F. Degenhardt, H. Tost, S. Witt, M. N öthen, M. Rietschel, A. Heinz, A. Meyer-Lindenberg, H. Walter, S. Erk Source Type: research