Selective disruption of the recognition of facial expressions of anger.
Appetitive aggression occurs in the context of resource/dominance disputes in a wide variety of species. Hence, the possibility arises that a specific neural system may have evolved to detect and coordinate responses to this specific form of challenge or threat. The dopamine system has been implicated in the processing of signals of aggression in social-agonistic encounters in several species. Here we report that dopaminergic antagonism in healthy male volunteers, following acute administration of the dopamine D2-class receptor antagonist sulpiride, leads to a selective disruption in the recognition of facial expressions of anger (signals of appetitive aggression in humans), but leaves intact recognition of other emotions and the matching of unfamiliar faces.
Lawrence
Andrew D
AD
MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Rd, Cambridge CB2 2EF, UK.
Calder
Andrew J
AJ
McGowan
Stephen W
SW
Grasby
Paul M
PM
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000009:adverse effects
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D013469:Sulpiride; D004298:Dopamine