by Sufang Li, Qihong Zou, Jun Li, Jin Li, Deyi Wang, Chaogan Yan, Qi Dong, Yu-Feng Zang
Background
Prior research has shown that the amygdala of carriers of the short allele (s) of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene (5-HTTLPR) have a larger response to negative emotional stimuli and higher spontaneous activity during the resting state than non-carriers. However, recent studies have suggested that the effects of 5-HTTLPR may be specific to different ethnic groups. Few studies have been conducted to address this issue.
Methodology/Principal Findings
Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted on thirty-eight healthy Han Chinese subjects (l/l group, n = 19; s/s group, n = 19) during the resting state and during an emotional processing task. Compared with the s/s group, the l/l group showed significantly increased regional homogeneity or local synchronization in the right amygdala during the resting state (|t|>2.028, p<0.05, corrected), but no significant difference was found in the bilateral amygdala in response to negative stimuli in the emotional processing task.
Conclusions/Significance
5-HTTLPR can alter the spontaneous activity of the amygdala in Han Chinese. However, the effect of 5-HTTLPR on the amygdala both in task state and resting state in Asian population was no similar with Caucasians. They suggest that the effect of 5-HTTLPR on the amygdala may be modulated by ethnic differences.
| Authors: |
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Sufang Li et al. |
| Journal: |
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PLoS ONE
|
| Volume: |
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7 |
| Issue: |
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5 |
| Year: |
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2012 |
| Pages: |
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e36513 |
| DOI: |
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10.1371/journal.pone.0036513 |
| Publication date: |
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04-05-2012 |