Short-term antidepressant treatment and facial processing. Functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of short-term treatment with reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, on emotional facial processing in healthy volunteers. Reboxetine was associated with a reduced amygdala response to fearful faces and increased activation to happy v. neutral facial expressions in the right fusiform gyrus, relative to placebo treatment and in the absence of changes in mood. Our results show that reboxetine modulates the neural substrates of emotional processing, highlighting a mechanism by which drug treatment could normalise negative bias in depression and anxiety.
Norbury
Ray
R
University of Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, MRS Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. raymond.norbury@psych.oxford.ac.uk
Mackay
Clare E
CE
Cowen
Philip J
PJ
Goodwin
Guy M
GM
Harmer
Catherine J
CJ
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D000077593:Reboxetine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009025:Morpholines; D000077593:Reboxetine