Sensation Seeking, Mania, and Monoamines

Zuckerman, Marvin

doi:10.1159/000118174

Cited by 57 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…LSSs exhibit higher platelet levels of monoamine oxidase (a DA catabolist; Zuckerman, 1985;Carrasco et al, 1999), and LSS status has been associated with relatively lower activity dopa decarboxylase (DDC; a rate-limiting enzyme for DA synthesis) in the striatum; via both variation in the DDC gene itself (Derringer et al, 2010) and the Taq1a polymorphism (Ratsma et al, 2001;Laakso et al, 2005;Eisenberg et al, 2007). However, there is currently no evidence for increased "gain" (for example, via receptor hypersensitivity) in DA neurotransmission in LSS individuals as a consequence of this.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dopamine Modulates Risk-Taking as a Function of Baseline Sensation-Seeking Trait

Norbury

Manohar

Rogers

et al. 2013

Journal of Neuroscience

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Trait sensation-seeking, defined as a need for varied, complex, and intense sensations, represents a relatively underexplored hedonic drive in human behavioral neuroscience research. It is related to increased risk for a range of behaviors including substance use, gambling, and risky sexual practice. Individual differences in self-reported sensation-seeking have been linked to brain dopamine function, particularly at D2-like receptors, but so far no causal evidence exists for a role of dopamine in sensation-seeking behavior in humans. Here, we investigated the effects of the selective D2/D3 agonist cabergoline on performance of a probabilistic risky choice task in healthy humans using a sensitive within-subject, placebo-controlled design. Cabergoline significantly influenced the way participants combined different explicit signals regarding probability and loss when choosing between response options associated with uncertain outcomes. Importantly, these effects were strongly dependent on baseline sensation-seeking score. Overall, cabergoline increased sensitivity of choice to information about probability of winning; while decreasing discrimination according to magnitude of potential losses associated with different options. The largest effects of the drug were observed in participants with lower sensation-seeking scores. These findings provide evidence that risk-taking behavior in humans can be directly manipulated by a dopaminergic drug, but that the effectiveness of such a manipulation depends on baseline differences in sensation-seeking trait. This emphasizes the importance of considering individual differences when investigating manipulation of risky decision-making, and may have relevance for the development of pharmacotherapies for disorders involving excessive risk-taking in humans, such as pathological gambling.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dopamine Modulates Risk-Taking as a Function of Baseline Sensation-Seeking Trait

Norbury

Manohar

Rogers

et al. 2013

Journal of Neuroscience

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“…Second, the generalizability of our findings is constrained by a skewed sex ratio with more females than males, and additional research is needed to assess the effects of mild early stress on sex differences in novelty seeking. Third, our measures may reflect impulsivity and not just novelty seeking since these aspects of behavior are often associated with one another (Kelley et al 2004;Zuckerman 1985). This seems unlikely because IS monkeys perform significantly better than NS monkeys on a cognitive task that requires inhibition of a prepotent response to obtain highly preferred food (Parker et al 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Novelty seeking behavior observed in this test situation was then compared to novelty seeking discerned in a previous study of the same monkeys (Parker et al 2004) to examine cross-situational consistency in the expression of this behavior. We also investigated whether novelty seeking is associated with differences in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measures of various neurochemicals, as studies of humans and animals have linked novelty seeking to monoamines (Bardo et al 1996;Gerra et al 1999;Sara et al 1995;Zuckerman 1985) and stress-related neuropeptides (Kabbaj et al 2000;Thorsell et al 2006). We therefore examined relationships between novelty seeking and CSF levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA), the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG), and the neuropeptide corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early life stress and novelty seeking behavior in adolescent monkeys

Parker

Rainwater

Buckmaster

et al. 2007

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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SUMMARYRecent evidence suggests that early exposure to mild stress promotes the development of novelty seeking behavior. Here we test this hypothesis in squirrel monkeys and investigate whether novelty seeking behavior is associated with differences in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA), the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG), and the neuropeptide corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). Monkeys were randomized early in life to either mild intermittent stress (IS) or no stress (NS) conditions, and subsequently presented with opportunities to interact with a familiar or novel object in a test box that was connected to each monkey's home cage. To further minimize the potentially stressful nature of the test situation, monkeys were acclimated to the test procedures prior to study initiation. Post-test plasma levels of cortisol in IS and NS monkeys did not differ significantly from baseline levels measured in undisturbed conditions. During testing, more IS than NS monkeys voluntarily left the home cage, and IS monkeys spent more time in the test box compared to NS monkeys. More IS than NS monkeys engaged in object exploration in the test box, and IS monkeys preferred to interact with the novel vs. familiar object. Novelty seeking was not associated with differences in 5HIAA, HVA, MHPG, or CRF, but correlated with differences in object exploration observed in a different test situation at an earlier age. These trait-like differences in novelty seeking appear to reflect mild early stress-induced adaptations that enhance curiosity and resilience.

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“…Alternatively, one speculative but related explanation for the relation between the dopamine system and dangerous, spontaneous long leaps is that at this younger age, sensation seeking may play a role in this behavior. Both the dopamine and noradrenergic systems have been linked to sensation seeking in humans (Zuckerman, 1985). Moreover, low anxiety is linked to low levels of CSF MHPG in some studies (Redmond et al, 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological Correlates of Aggression and Impulsivity in Free-Ranging Female Primates

Westergaard¹,

Suomi

Chavanne³

et al. 2003

Neuropsychopharmacol

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We examined the relations among cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolite concentrations, plasma hormone concentrations, aggression, and impulsive risk-taking behavior in a free-ranging population of female rhesus macaques. We selected 44 juvenile female rhesus macaques as subjects from a population of approximately 3000 macaques that inhabit a 475-acre Sea Island. We obtained CSF and blood samples, and recorded behavioral observations over a subsequent 18-month period. Our results indicate an inverse correlation between CSF concentrations of the major serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and the frequency of low-intensity restrained aggression typically associated with matrilineal defense of social status. In contrast, previous research with males has shown an inverse correlation between CSF 5-HIAA concentrations and levels of violent unstrained aggression typically associated with traumatic injury and death. We also noted a negative correlation between plasma concentrations of the stress hormone cortisol and the frequency of low-intensity aggressive acts, a finding not reported in our previous studies with males. Further examination revealed a negative correlation between CSF 5-HIAA concentrations and the rate of long dangerous leaps through the forest canopy, suggesting that the relation between low serotonergic functioning and impulsivity may generalize to both female and male primates. These results indicate that females with low CSF 5-HIAA concentrations, like their male counterparts, are at increased risk for impulsive temperament, but that unlike males, females may be buffered from this risk through intersexual differences in life history patterns and social affiliation.

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Sensation Seeking, Mania, and Monoamines

Cited by 57 publications

References 37 publications

Dopamine Modulates Risk-Taking as a Function of Baseline Sensation-Seeking Trait

Dopamine Modulates Risk-Taking as a Function of Baseline Sensation-Seeking Trait

Early life stress and novelty seeking behavior in adolescent monkeys

Physiological Correlates of Aggression and Impulsivity in Free-Ranging Female Primates

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