Amygdala-prefrontal coupling depends on a genetic variation of the serotonin transporter.
Major depression is conditionally linked to a polymorphism of the human serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4). During the presentation of aversive, but not pleasant, pictures, healthy carriers of the SLC6A4 short (s) allele showed stronger activation of the amygdala on functional magnetic resonance imaging. s carriers also showed greater coupling between the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which may contribute to the abnormally high activity in the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex seen in major depression.
Heinz
Andreas
A
Department of Psychiatry, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Schumannstr. 20-21, 10117 Berlin, Germany. andreas.heinze@charite.de
Braus
Dieter F
DF
Smolka
Michael N
MN
Wrase
Jana
J
Puls
Imke
I
Hermann
Derik
D
Klein
Sabine
S
Grüsser
Sabine M
SM
Flor
Herta
H
Schumann
Gunter
G
Mann
Karl
K
Büchel
Christian
C
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000679:Amygdala / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D010100:Oxygen