Work

The relationship between reward and punishment processing and the 5-HT1A receptor as shown by PET

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: RATIONALE: The serotonin (5-HT) system has been reported to be involved in decision-making. A key component of this neurotransmitter system is the 5-HT1A receptor, and research is beginning to show how this receptor can influence decision-making. However, this relationship has rarely been studied in humans. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed whether individual variability in 5-HT1A availability correlates with decision-making in healthy volunteers. METHODS: We measured regional availability of the 5-HT1A receptor in the hippocampal complex and striatum using positron emission tomography and correlated this with performance on two decision-making tasks measuring sensitivity to probability, rewards and punishments and temporal discounting, respectively. RESULTS: No relationship between decision-making behaviour and 5-HT1A availability in the striatum was found. However, a positive correlation was detected between participants' 5-HT1A availability in the hippocampal complex and their sensitivity to the probability of winning. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between the degree to which participants discounted future rewards and 5-HT1A availability in the hippocampal complex. CONCLUSIONS: These data support a role for the 5-HT1A receptor in the aberrant decision-making that can occur in neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression.

Source: Psychopharmacology

DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3426-9

Authors: Paul Faulkner, Sudhakar Selvaraj, Alex Pine, Oliver D. Howes, Jonathan P. Roiser

Institutions: University College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Medical Research Council, Weizmann Institute of Science

Language: English

Topic: Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,372