5HTTLPR predicts left fusiform gyrus activation to positive emotional stimuli.
This study was designed to replicate and extend past research examining the impact of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5HTTLPR) on neural activation during emotional processing. Six women with at least one short allele were compared to six age-matched women with long/long alleles of the 5HTTLPR. Participants were shown 36 positive and 36 negative slides from the International Affective Picture Set, while functional images were acquired using a 4-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Although we were unable to replicate past research demonstrating relatively increased amygdala activation among individuals with an "s" allele to negative stimuli, women with an s allele evidenced decreased left fusiform gyrus activation to positive emotional stimuli (as expected). We suggest that women with a short allele may be either less attentive or less "expert" with regard to positive emotional stimuli, and ideas for future research are presented.
Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7123, USA. heath.demaree@case.edu
Heath A
HA
Demaree
Jie
J
Pu
Jack
J
Jesberger
Norah
N
Feeny
Linda
L
Jeng
D Erik
DE
Everhart
Jeff
J
Duerk
Jean
J
Tkach
D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins