Influence of Serotonin Transporter Genotype and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Polymorphism on Recognition of Emotional Faces

AbstractMonoamines, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, play a crucial role in the regulation of emotion processing and mood. In this study, we investigated how polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) influence emotion recognition abilities. We recruited 88 female undergraduate students and assessed 5-HTT genotype and the COMT Val158Met polymorphism. The subjects completed two computerized tasks: The Penn Emotion Recognition Test (ER40) and the Penn Emotion Acuity Test (PEAT). For the ER40, we found that s-allele carriers performed significantly worse in the recognition of happy faces, but did better in the recognition of fearful faces, compared with homozygous l-carriers of the 5-HTT gene. Neither 5-HTT nor COMT genotypes influenced the ability to discriminate between different intensities of sadness or happiness on the PEAT. Moreover, there was no significant interaction between the two polymorphisms in their effect on performance on the ER40 or the PEAT. (JINS, 2011, 17, 1014–1020)

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Serotonin transporter genotype, morning cortisol and subsequent depression in adolescents

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.108.054775 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 195 (1) ◽

pp. 39-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Ian M. Goodyer ◽

Alison Bacon ◽

Maria Ban ◽

Tim Croudace ◽

Joe Herbert

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Depressive Episode ◽

Gene Promoter ◽

Depressive Illness ◽

Short Allele ◽

Morning Cortisol ◽

Serotonin Transporter Genotype ◽

S Allele ◽

Subsequent Onset

BackgroundThe short (s) allele of the serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTTLPR) may be associated with exposure to social adversities and the subsequent onset of depressive illness in adulthood.AimsTo test in adolescents at high risk for depression whether the short ‘s’ allele is associated with levels of morning cortisol and the subsequent onset of a depressive episode.MethodHigh-risk adolescents (n = 403) were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR. Salivary samples were obtained on four consecutive school days within 1 h of waking from 393 (97.5%) individuals and 367 (91%) underwent a mental state reassessment at 12 months.ResultsMultilevel analysis revealed higher levels of salivary cortisol in short allele carriers (s/s>s/l>l/l). A subsequent episode of depression was increased in those with higher cortisol and the ‘s’ allele, and independently by depressive symptoms at entry, in both genders.ConclusionsThe short allele of 5-HTTLPR may moderate the association between morning cortisol and the subsequent onset of a depressive episode.

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Issues concerning feedback about genetic testing and risk of depression

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.107.047514 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 194 (5) ◽

pp. 404-410 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Kay Wilhelm ◽

Bettina Meiser ◽

Philip B. Mitchell ◽

Adam W. Finch ◽

Jennifer E. Siegel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Causal Effect ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Gene Environment Interaction ◽

Individual Genotype ◽

Gene Environment ◽

Serotonin Transporter Genotype ◽

S Allele ◽

The Impact

BackgroundRecent studies show that adverse life events have a significantly greater impact on depression onset for those with the s/s allele of the genotype for the 5-HT gene-linked promoter region. Research in genes related to risk of depression leads to the question of how this information is received by individuals.AimsTo investigate factors related to the response to receiving one's own serotonin transporter genotype results.MethodPredictors of the impact of receiving individual genotype data were assessed in 128 participants in a study of gene–environment interaction in depression onset.ResultsTwo-thirds decided to learn their individual genotype results (receivers) and prior to disclosure this decision was associated with a perception of greater benefit from receipt of the information (P=0.001). Receivers completing the 2-week (n=76) and 3-month follow-up (n=78) generally reported feeling pleased with the information and having had a more positive experience than distress. However, distress was related to genotype, with those with the s/s allele being most affected.ConclusionsThere was high interest in, and satisfaction with, learning about one's serotonin transporter genotype. Participants appeared to understand that the gene conferred susceptibility to depression rather than a direct causal effect.

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Early event-related potentials to emotional faces differ for adults with autism spectrum disorder and by serotonin transporter genotype

Clinical Neurophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.clinph.2016.02.022 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 127 (6) ◽

pp. 2436-2447 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Susan Faja ◽

Geraldine Dawson ◽

Elizabeth Aylward ◽

Ellen M. Wijsman ◽

Sara Jane Webb

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Early Event ◽

Adults With Autism ◽

Emotional Faces ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Serotonin Transporter Genotype

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Case of Asperger's Syndrome and Lesion of the Right Amygdala: Deficits in Implicit and Explicit Fearful Face Recognition

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.677549 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Katja Koelkebeck ◽

Jochen Bauer ◽

Thomas Suslow ◽

Patricia Ohrmann

Keyword(s):

Emotion Recognition ◽

Male Patient ◽

Recognition Task ◽

Facial Emotion ◽

Implicit Processing ◽

Emotional Faces ◽

Amygdala Activation ◽

Fearful Faces ◽

The Right ◽

Implicit And Explicit

Introduction: Studies of brain-damaged patients revealed that amygdala lesions cause deficits in the processing and recognition of emotional faces. Patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have similar deficits also related to dysfunctions of the limbic system including the amygdala.Methods: We investigated a male patient who had been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. He also presented with a lesion of the right mesial temporal cortex, including the amygdala. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate neuronal processing during a passive viewing task of implicit and explicit emotional faces. Clinical assessment included a facial emotion recognition task.Results: There was no amygdala activation on both sides during the presentation of masked emotional faces compared to the no-face control condition. Presentation of unmasked happy and angry faces activated the left amygdala compared to the no-face control condition. There was no amygdala activation in response to unmasked fearful faces on both sides. In the facial emotion recognition task, the patient biased positive and neutral expressions as negative.Conclusions: This case report describes a male patient with right amygdala damage and an ASD. He displayed a non-response of the amygdala to fearful faces and tended to misinterpret fearful expressions. Moreover, a non-reactivity of both amygdalae to emotional facial expressions at an implicit processing level was revealed. It is discussed whether the deficient implicit processing of facial emotional information and abnormalities in fear processing could contribute and aggravate the patient's impairments in social behavior and interaction.

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Serotonin Transporter Genotype Modulates Subgenual Response to Fearful Faces Using an Incidental Task

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_00055 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 3681-3693 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Elizabeth J. P. O'Nions ◽

Raymond J. Dolan ◽

Jonathan P. Roiser

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Gender Discrimination ◽

Negative Mood ◽

Causal Modeling ◽

Inhibitory Influence ◽

Aversive Stimuli ◽

Fearful Faces ◽

Serotonin Transporter Genotype ◽

The Impact ◽

Subgenual Cingulate

This study assessed the impact of serotonin transporter genotype (5-HTTLPR) on regional responses to emotional faces in the amygdala and subgenual cingulate cortex (sgACC), while subjects performed a gender discrimination task. Although we found no evidence for greater amygdala reactivity or reduced amygdala–sgACC coupling in short variant 5-HTTLPR homozygotes (s/s), we observed an interaction between genotype and emotion in sgACC. Only long variant homozygotes (la/la) exhibited subgenual deactivation to fearful versus neutral faces, whereas the effect in s/s subjects was in the other direction. This absence of subgenual deactivation in s/s subjects parallels a recent finding in depressed subjects [Grimm, S., Boesiger, P., Beck, J., Schuepbach, D., Bermpohl, F., Walter, M., et al. Altered negative BOLD responses in the default-mode network during emotion processing in depressed subjects. Neuropsychopharmacology, 34, 932–943, 2009]. Taken together, the findings suggest that subgenual cingulate activity may play an important role in regulating the impact of aversive stimuli, potentially conferring greater resilience to the effects of aversive stimuli in la/la subjects. Using dynamic causal modeling of functional magnetic resonance imaging data, we explored the effects of genotype on effective connectivity and emotion-specific changes in coupling across a network of regions implicated in social processing. Viewing fearful faces enhanced bidirectional excitatory coupling between the amygdala and the fusiform gyrus, and increased the inhibitory influence of the amygdala over the sgACC, although this modulation of coupling did not differ between the genotype groups. The findings are discussed in relation to the role of sgACC and serotonin in moderating responses to aversive stimuli [Dayan, P., & Huys, Q. J., Serotonin, inhibition, and negative mood. PLoS Comput Biol, 4, e4, 2008; Mayberg, H. S., Liotti, M., Brannan, S. K., McGinnis, S., Mahurin, R. K., Jerabek, P. A., et al. Reciprocal limbic–cortical function and negative mood: Converging PET findings in depression and normal sadness. Am J Psychiatry, 156, 675–682, 1999].

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The Serotonin Transporter Gene and Personality: Association of the 5-HTTLPR S Allele, Anxiety, Depression and Affective Temperaments

Hungarian Medical Journal ◽

10.1556/hmj.2.2008.28406 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 639-645 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xenia Gonda

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Serotonin Transporter Gene ◽

Transporter Gene ◽

Affective Temperaments ◽

S Allele ◽

Anxiety Depression

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The serotonin transporter gene and personality: association of the 5-HTTLPR s allele, anxiety, depression and affective temperaments

Orvosi Hetilap ◽

10.1556/oh.2008.28406 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 149 (33) ◽

pp. 1569-1573 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Xénia Gonda

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Serotonin Transporter Gene ◽

Transporter Gene ◽

Affective Temperaments ◽

S Allele ◽

Anxiety Depression

Az 5-HTTLPR-polimorfizmus kiemelt szerepet játszik a hangulatzavarok és a neuroticismus hátterében. Vizsgálatunk célja az 5-HTTLPR és a neuroticismus komponensei közül a szorongásra és a depresszióra való hajlam és az affektív labilitás összefüggésének vizsgálata volt pszichiátriailag egészséges populációban. A vizsgálat résztvevői a Spielberger-féle vonás- és állapotszorongás kérdőívet (STAI), a Zung-féle önértékelő depresszióskálát (ZSDS), valamint a TEMPS-A kérdőívet töltötték ki. Az 5-HTTLPR genotípust PCR segítségével határoztuk meg. A pontszámokat a különböző csoportokban ANOVA segítségével hasonlítottuk össze. Az s allélt hordozók szignifikánsan magasabb pontszámot kaptak a ZSDS és a STAI állapotszorongás-skálán, valamint a depresszív komponenst hordozó affektívtemperamentum-skálákon is. Eredményeink szerint a neuroticismus komponensei önállóan is összefüggést mutatnak az 5-HTTLPR-polimorfizmussal, ami a vonás egységességét támasztja alá. Eredményeink rámutatnak további kutatások szükségességére az egészséges populációban megfigyelhető vonások genetikai hátterének feltárásával kapcsolatban, mivel ezek a neuropszichiátriai betegségek endofenotípusaiként a jövőbeli kutatások alapvető építőkövei lehetnek.

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