title: Electrocortical effects of acute tryptophan depletion on emotive facial processing in depression-prone individuals.
abstract: This study assessed the effects of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD), which transiently lowers CNS 5-HT, on electrocortical responses to facial expression processing in individuals with a family history of depression (FH+). Electroencephalograph (EEG)-derived event-related potentials (ERPs) were acquired from 18 FH+ individuals during a facial expression recognition task (neutral and sad, joy and surprise at 50% and 100% intensities). Both early positive (P1 and P2) and the face-specific N170 ERP components were differentially altered by emotional intensity and valence. Increased depression, confusion and total mood disturbance scores, and decreased calmness, were observed with ATD (versus placebo). ATD was also associated with enhanced P1 and P2 amplitudes for sad versus joyful expressions. The N170 was not modulated by treatment, but was affected by emotive valence. Therefore, ATD enhanced ERP-indexed early processing of sad facial expressions, and altered the processing of positive ones, in FH+ individuals.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Natalia.Jaworska@rohcg.on.ca
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jaworska
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Dhrasti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ilivitsky
authors.forename: Verner
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D014364:Tryptophan