Tryptophan Depletion Reduces Right Inferior Prefrontal Activation During Response Inhibition in Fast, Event-related FMRI

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2005 May 12

PMID 15887056

Citations 60

Authors

Katya Rubia

Francis Lee

Anthony J Cleare

Nigel Tunstall

Cynthia H Y Fu

Michael Brammer

Phillip McGuire

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Rationale And Objective: In animal and human studies, the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) has been implicated in mediating impulsiveness and aggression. To test the hypothesis that 5-HT modulates neuro-cognitive brain activation during inhibitory control, we examined the effect of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD), a dietary challenge, which has been shown to decrease 5-HT synthesis in the brain, on functional brain activation during a go/no-go task.

Methods: Nine healthy, right-handed volunteers performed a rapid, event-related go/no-go task in two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning sessions, 5 h after either a tryptophan-free or a balanced amino acid drink in a double-blind, sham depletion-controlled, counterbalanced, crossover design. The task required subjects to selectively execute or inhibit a motor response. Tryptophan depletion significantly lowered total plasma tryptophan concentration by 80%, but did not significantly alter inhibitory performance or mood ratings.

Results: ATD significantly reduced right orbito-inferior prefrontal activation during the no-go condition, and increased activation in superior and medial temporal cortices.

Conclusions: These findings provide neuro-functional evidence of a serotonergic modulation of right inferior prefrontal during inhibitory motor control. The increased engagement of temporal brain regions may reflect compensatory mechanisms.

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