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Associations among central nervous system serotonergic function and neuroticism are moderated by gender.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brummett, BH; Boyle, SH; Kuhn, CM; Siegler, IC; Williams, RB
Published in: Biol Psychol
May 2008

Serotonergic dysregulation is associated with negative affect. Plasma prolactin responses to a tryptophan enhancement challenge are used as a measure of central nervous system serotonergic activity. We examined prolactin responses to a tryptophan challenge as they relate to the personality domains of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Participants were 67 volunteers. Regression models assessed peak prolactin response to intravenous tryptophan infusion as a predictor of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Prolactinxgender product terms were included to examine moderation by gender. Models were adjusted for baseline levels of prolactin, age, and race. Gender moderated the association between N and prolactin level (p<.03). Higher levels of N were associated with decreased levels of prolactin responses in females, whereas the opposite was true for males. Remaining personality domains were not related to prolactin levels. Findings add to literature suggesting the serotonin system functions differently, in important ways, in males and females.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biol Psychol

DOI

ISSN

0301-0511

Publication Date

May 2008

Volume

78

Issue

2

Start / End Page

200 / 203

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Tryptophan
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Serotonin
  • Prolactin
  • Personality Inventory
  • Personality
  • Neurotic Disorders
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Brummett, B. H., Boyle, S. H., Kuhn, C. M., Siegler, I. C., & Williams, R. B. (2008). Associations among central nervous system serotonergic function and neuroticism are moderated by gender. Biol Psychol, 78(2), 200–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2008.03.002
Brummett, Beverly H., Stephen H. Boyle, Cynthia M. Kuhn, Ilene C. Siegler, and Redford B. Williams. “Associations among central nervous system serotonergic function and neuroticism are moderated by gender.Biol Psychol 78, no. 2 (May 2008): 200–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2008.03.002.
Brummett BH, Boyle SH, Kuhn CM, Siegler IC, Williams RB. Associations among central nervous system serotonergic function and neuroticism are moderated by gender. Biol Psychol. 2008 May;78(2):200–3.
Brummett, Beverly H., et al. “Associations among central nervous system serotonergic function and neuroticism are moderated by gender.Biol Psychol, vol. 78, no. 2, May 2008, pp. 200–03. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2008.03.002.
Brummett BH, Boyle SH, Kuhn CM, Siegler IC, Williams RB. Associations among central nervous system serotonergic function and neuroticism are moderated by gender. Biol Psychol. 2008 May;78(2):200–203.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biol Psychol

DOI

ISSN

0301-0511

Publication Date

May 2008

Volume

78

Issue

2

Start / End Page

200 / 203

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Tryptophan
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Serotonin
  • Prolactin
  • Personality Inventory
  • Personality
  • Neurotic Disorders
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans