The goal of this protocol is to use a targeted serotonergic manipulation (tryptophan depletion) and specific neurocognitive and neuroimaging paradigms to consider the role of serotonin in emotional processing. In particular, we will evaluate claims that serotonin has a role in the effective processing of aversive signals. In addition, we will examine whether tryptophan depletion will attenuate the neural response to aversive material.
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Finger, Elizabeth C; Marsh, Abigail A; Buzas, Beata et al. (2007) The impact of tryptophan depletion and 5-HTTLPR genotype on passive avoidance and response reversal instrumental learning tasks. Neuropsychopharmacology 32:206-15 |
Marsh, Abigail A; Finger, Elizabeth C; Buzas, Beata et al. (2006) Impaired recognition of fear facial expressions in 5-HTTLPR S-polymorphism carriers following tryptophan depletion. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 189:387-94 |