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

Biological Psychology
B BrummettRedford B Williams

Abstract

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.

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Citations

Feb 13, 2009·Chronobiology International·Lorenzo TonettiVincenzo Natale
Jun 25, 2010·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Michael PluessShelley E Taylor
Jun 16, 2010·Psychoneuroendocrinology·John S StraussUNKNOWN International Consortium for Childhood-Onset Mood Disorders
Apr 23, 2009·Neuroscience Letters·Lorenzo TonettiVincenzo Natale
Jan 1, 2014·Behavioural Brain Research·Catrin WielpuetzJuergen Hennig

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