Is desire for social relationships mediated by the serotonergic system in the prefrontal cortex? An [(18)F]setoperone PET study.
Social behavior and desire for social relationships have been independently linked to the serotonergic system, the prefrontal cortex, especially the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The goal of this study was to explore the role of serotonin 5HT(2A) receptors in these brain regions in forming and maintaining close interpersonal relationships. Twenty-four healthy subjects completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) prior to undergoing [(18)F]setoperone brain positron emission tomography (PET) to measure serotonin 5HT(2A) receptor availability within the OFC (BA 11 and 47) and ACC (BA 32). We explored the relationship between desire for social relationships, as measured by the TCI reward dependence (RD) scale, and 5HT(2A) receptor non-displaceable binding potential (BP(nd)) in these regions. Scores of RD were negatively correlated with 5HT(2A) BP(nd) in the ACC (BA 32, r = -.528, p = .012) and OFC (BA 11, r = -.489, p = .021; BA 47, r = -.501, p = .017). These correlations were corroborated by a voxel-wise analysis. These results suggest that the serotonergic system may have a regulatory effect on the OFC and ACC for establishing and maintaining social relationships.
Gerretsen
Philip
P
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Graff-Guerrero
Ariel
A
Menon
Mahesh
M
Pollock
Bruce G
BG
Kapur
Shitij
S
Vasdev
Neil
N
Houle
Sylvain
S
Mamo
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; C045359:setoperone