title: Hippocampal 5-HT1A receptor binding is related to object-location memory in humans.
abstract: Animal studies suggest that serotonin, mediated by the 5-HT1A receptor, plays a key role in spatial learning and memory. The role of serotonin in spatial memory in humans has, however, been less well studied. This study examined the relationship between serotonin receptor density in the human brain and spatial learning and memory using the 5-HT1A receptor ligand (18)F-4-(2'-methoxyphenyl)-1-[2'-(N-2-pyridinyl)-p-fluorobenzamido]-ethyl-piperazine ([(18)F] MPPF) and positron emission tomography (PET). Ten neurologically healthy individuals underwent two [(18)F] MPPF PET scans, one while performing a task which involves processing of high-level spatial information ('house scan'), and one while performing a task which involves processing of low-level spatial information ('tunnel scan'). Navigation, recall of arbitrary associations between objects and their spatial location, and ability to draw a plan of the environment were tested following the house scan. 5-HT1A receptor binding did not differ significantly between processing high and low levels of spatial information. Hippocampal asymmetry in [(18)F] MPPF binding, however, was associated with memory for object-location associations; lower right than left hippocampal binding potential (BPND) was related to better memory performance. We conclude that hippocampal serotonergic function plays a role in a fundamental component of human spatial memory, the ability to recall the location of encountered objects.
authors.affiliation: The School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, yifatglikmannjohnston@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yifat
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Glikmann-Johnston
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Saling
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tochon-Danguy
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mulligan
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Reutens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010879:Piperazines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000378:metabolism*; D065853:Spatial Learning / Q000502:physiology; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D065854:Spatial Navigation / Q000502:physiology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; C416325:4-(2'-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2'-(N-2'-pyridinyl)-p-(18F)fluorobenzamido )ethylpiperazine