title: Dopamine in amygdala gates limbic processing of aversive stimuli in humans.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kienast
authors.forename: Ahmad R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hariri
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wrase
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sterzer
authors.forename: Hans Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Smolka
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gründer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cumming
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumakura
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartenstein
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; C043437:fluorodopa F 18; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D010100:Oxygen; D004298:Dopamine