Testosterone exposure, dopaminergic reward, and sensation-seeking in young men.
To test the relationship between androgen exposure, dopaminergic reward and sensation-seeking, we compared variation in salivary testosterone (T), 2D:4D digit ratio, facial masculinity, Zuckerman's sensation-seeking scale (SSS) and the D4 dopamine receptor (DRD4) genes from 98 young men, between the ages of 18 and 23 years. In univariate analyses, both salivary T and facial masculinity were significantly correlated with the SSS boredom susceptibility subscale, while the presence of the 7-repeat allele (7R+) in the dopamine receptor D4 gene was associated with the SSS thrill and adventure-seeking and overall sensation-seeking. Neither left nor right 2D:4D digit ratio was associated with any sensation-seeking scale. In multivariate models, salivary T and facial masculinity were significant predictors of SSS boredom susceptibility, while 7R+ was a significant predictor of SSS thrill and adventure-seeking. For overall SSS, both 7R+ and salivary T were significant predictors. There was no significant interaction of 7R+ and androgen exposure for SSS or any of the SSS subscales. These results add to earlier reports of an association between T and sensation-seeking. In addition, our results also indicate that genetic variation in DRD4 is independently associated with SSS sensation-seeking.
Campbell
Benjamin C
BC
Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 290 Sabin Hall, 3413 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA. campbelb@uwm.edu
Dreber
Anna
A
Apicella
Coren L
CL
Eisenberg
Dan T A
DT
Gray
Peter B
PB
Little
Anthony C
AC
Garcia
Justin R
JR
Zamore
Richard S
RS
Lum
J Koji
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005145:Face; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics; D012201:Reward; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000728:Androgens; C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D013739:Testosterone; D004298:Dopamine