Dopamine in amygdala gates limbic processing of aversive stimuli in humans.
Dopamine is released under stress and modulates processing of aversive stimuli. We found that dopamine storage capacity in human amygdala, measured with 6-[(18)F]fluoro-L-DOPA positron emission tomography, was positively correlated with functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygen level-dependent signal changes in amygdala and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex that were evoked by aversive stimuli. Furthermore, functional connectivity between these two regions was inversely related to trait anxiety. Our results suggest that individual dopamine storage capacity in amygdala subserves modulation of emotional processing in amygdala and dorsal cingulate, thereby contributing to individual differences in anxious temperament.
Kienast
Thorsten
T
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Hariri
Ahmad R
AR
Schlagenhauf
Florian
F
Wrase
Jana
J
Sterzer
Philipp
P
Buchholz
Hans Georg
HG
Smolka
Michael N
MN
Gründer
Gerhard
G
Cumming
Paul
P
Kumakura
Yoshitaka
Y
Bartenstein
Peter
P
Dolan
Raymond J
RJ
Heinz
Andreas
A
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000679:Amygdala / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008032:Limbic System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics
D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; C043437:fluorodopa F 18; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D010100:Oxygen; D004298:Dopamine