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Serotonin transporter genetic variation and the response of the human amygdala.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hariri, AR; Mattay, VS; Tessitore, A; Kolachana, B; Fera, F; Goldman, D; Egan, MF; Weinberger, DR
Published in: Science (New York, N.Y.)
July 2002

A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the human serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) has been associated with several dimensions of neuroticism and psychopathology, especially anxiety traits, but the predictive value of this genotype against these complex behaviors has been inconsistent. Serotonin [5- hydroxytryptamine, (5-HT)] function influences normal fear as well as pathological anxiety, behaviors critically dependent on the amygdala in animal models and in clinical studies. We now report that individuals with one or two copies of the short allele of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) promoter polymorphism, which has been associated with reduced 5-HTT expression and function and increased fear and anxiety-related behaviors, exhibit greater amygdala neuronal activity, as assessed by BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging, in response to fearful stimuli compared with individuals homozygous for the long allele. These results demonstrate genetically driven variation in the response of brain regions underlying human emotional behavior and suggest that differential excitability of the amygdala to emotional stimuli may contribute to the increased fear and anxiety typically associated with the short SLC6A4 allele.

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Published In

Science (New York, N.Y.)

DOI

EISSN

1095-9203

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

July 2002

Volume

297

Issue

5580

Start / End Page

400 / 403

Related Subject Headings

  • Sex Characteristics
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Serotonin
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Personality
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Male
 

Citation

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Hariri, A. R., Mattay, V. S., Tessitore, A., Kolachana, B., Fera, F., Goldman, D., … Weinberger, D. R. (2002). Serotonin transporter genetic variation and the response of the human amygdala. Science (New York, N.Y.), 297(5580), 400–403. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1071829
Hariri, Ahmad R., Venkata S. Mattay, Alessandro Tessitore, Bhaskar Kolachana, Francesco Fera, David Goldman, Michael F. Egan, and Daniel R. Weinberger. “Serotonin transporter genetic variation and the response of the human amygdala.Science (New York, N.Y.) 297, no. 5580 (July 2002): 400–403. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1071829.
Hariri AR, Mattay VS, Tessitore A, Kolachana B, Fera F, Goldman D, et al. Serotonin transporter genetic variation and the response of the human amygdala. Science (New York, NY). 2002 Jul;297(5580):400–3.
Hariri, Ahmad R., et al. “Serotonin transporter genetic variation and the response of the human amygdala.Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 297, no. 5580, July 2002, pp. 400–03. Epmc, doi:10.1126/science.1071829.
Hariri AR, Mattay VS, Tessitore A, Kolachana B, Fera F, Goldman D, Egan MF, Weinberger DR. Serotonin transporter genetic variation and the response of the human amygdala. Science (New York, NY). 2002 Jul;297(5580):400–403.
Journal cover image

Published In

Science (New York, N.Y.)

DOI

EISSN

1095-9203

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

July 2002

Volume

297

Issue

5580

Start / End Page

400 / 403

Related Subject Headings

  • Sex Characteristics
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Serotonin
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Personality
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Male