title: Exploring the relationship between social attachment and dopamine D2/3receptor availability in the brains of healthy humans using [11C]-(+)-PHNO.
abstract: Differences in striatal dopamine (DA) function may be related to differences in the degree of social attachment to others. Using positron emission tomography (PET), socially detached persons demonstrate reduced DA D2/3receptor (D2/3R) availability in the striatum. However, previous PET studies have only used antagonist radiotracers for D2/3R and have not specifically examined regions of interest (ROIs) such as the ventral striatum (VS). In 32 healthy persons, we investigated the relationship between self-reported attachment and DA D2/3R availability in striatal and extrastriatal ROIs as measured using the agonist radiotracer [11C]-(+)-PHNO. Surprisingly, more social attachment-as measured by the attachment subscale of the temperament and character inventory-was related to less [11C]-(+)-PHNO binding in the VS (r(30) = -.43, p = .01). This relationship held in a subsample who also completed the detachment subscale of the Karolinska Scales of Personality (r(10) = .62, p = .03). However, no relationships were observed with BPNDin the dorsal striatum or D3R-specific ROIs. One potential explanation for these findings is that persons who are more socially detached have less endogenous DA occupying D2/3R in the VS. This interpretation warrants investigation by future research. These findings may help us better understand the neurochemical basis of attachment.
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|b Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5S 1A8.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caravaggio
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|b Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5S 1A8.
authors.forename: Jun Ku
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|b Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5S 1A8.|c Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerretsen
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|b Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5S 1A8.
authors.forename: Gagan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fervaha
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|c Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|b Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5S 1A8.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Plitman
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|b Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5S 1A8.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|b Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5S 1A8.|c Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: a Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.|b Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5S 1A8.|c Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada M5T 1R8.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graff-Guerrero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D010078:Oxazines; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D010556:Personality Tests; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D057566:Self Report; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C581293:DRD2 protein, human; C493593:DRD3 protein, human; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D010078:Oxazines; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; C042631:naxagolide
keywords: D2/3R; KSP; TCI; [11C]-(+)-PHNO; attachment; dopamine