Vasopressin modulates medial prefrontal cortex-amygdala circuitry during emotion processing in humans.
The neuropeptide vasopressin is a modulator of mammalian social behavior and emotion, particularly fear, aggression, and anxiety. In humans, the neural circuitry underlying behavioral effects of vasopressin is unknown. Using a double-blind crossover administration of 40 IU of vasopressin or placebo and functional MRI during processing of facial emotions in healthy male volunteers, we show that vasopressin specifically reduces differential activation in the subgenual cingulate cortex. Structural equation modeling of a previously evaluated circuit between amygdala, subgenual cingulate, and supragenual cingulate revealed altered effective connectivity between subgenual and supragenual cingulate under vasopressin. Our data demonstrate an impact of vasopressin on activity and connectivity in the cortical component of a medial prefrontal cortex-amygdala circuit implicated in emotional regulation, providing the first data on the neural basis for the effects of vasopressin on social behavior in humans with potential therapeutic significance for mood and anxiety disorders.
Zink
Caroline F
CF
Genes, Cognition, and Psychosis Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. zinkc@mail.nih.gov
Stein
Jason L
JL
Kempf
Lucas
L
Hakimi
Shabnam
S
Meyer-Lindenberg
Andreas
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face; D005149:Facial Expression; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
D014667:Vasopressins; D010100:Oxygen