Amygdala response to anticipation of dyspnea is modulated by 5‐HTTLPR genotype. (16th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stoeckel, M. Cornelia; Esser, Roland W.; Gamer, Matthias; Kalisch, Raffael; Büchel, Christian; von Leupoldt, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Psychophysiology. Volume 52:Number 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 973
• Page End: 976
• Publication Date: 2015-02-16
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12417
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-5772

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Dyspnea anticipation and perception varies largely between individuals. To investigate whether genetic factors related to negative affect such as the 5‐HTT<italic>LPR</italic> polymorphism impact this variability, we investigated healthy, 5‐HTT<italic>LPR</italic> stratified volunteers using resistive load induced dyspnea together with fMRI. Alternating blocks of severe and mild dyspnea ("perception") were differentially cued ("anticipation") and followed by intensity and unpleasantness ratings. In addition, volunteers indicated their anticipatory fear during the anticipation periods. There were no genotype‐based group differences concerning dyspnea intensity and unpleasantness or brain activation during perception of severe vs. mild dyspnea. However, in risk allele carriers, higher anticipatory fear was paralleled by stronger amygdala activation during anticipation of severe vs. mild dyspnea. These results suggest a role of the 5‐HTT<italic>LPR</italic> genotype in fearful dyspnea anticipation.</p> </abstract>