title: Beta receptor-mediated modulation of the late positive potential in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electrophysiological studies have identified a scalp potential, the late positive potential (LPP), which is modulated by the emotional intensity of observed stimuli. Previous work has shown that the LPP reflects the modulation of activity in extrastriate visual cortical structures, but little is known about the source of that modulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated whether beta-adrenergic receptors are involved in the generation of the LPP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a genetic individual differences approach (experiment 1) and a pharmacological manipulation (experiment 2) to test the hypothesis that the LPP is modulated by the activation of β-adrenergic receptors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In experiment 1, we found that LPP amplitude depends on allelic variation in the β1-receptor gene polymorphism. In experiment 2, we found that LPP amplitude was modulated by the β-blocker propranolol in a direction dependent on subjects' level of trait anxiety: In participants with lower trait anxiety, propranolol led to a (nonsignificant) decrease in the LPP modulation; in participants with higher trait anxiety, propranolol increased the emotion-related LPP modulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide initial support for the hypothesis that the LPP reflects the downstream effects, in visual cortical areas, of β-receptor-mediated activation of the amygdala.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Psychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands. rovermde@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
authors.forename: Mischa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Rover
authors.forename: Stephen B R E
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hajcak
authors.forename: Martijn S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: van Noorden
authors.forename: Nic J A
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: van der Wee
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1; D011433:Propranolol