Clinical trial NCT03549182: Serotonin, Serotonin Genetics(TPH2) and Emotion and Interference Processing
Official title: The Influence of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on Emotion and Interference Processing and Potential Moderation by 5HT Genetics (TPH2)
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Healthy
Keywords: acute tryptophan depletion
tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene
emotion
Lead sponsor: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2018-06-07
Enrollment: 50
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: The study aims to explore whether acute tryptophan depletion can affect the emotion and interference processing whether this effect is moderated by the TPH2 genotype

Detailed description: Based on previous studies suggesting that serotonin, a neurotransmitter, is associated with social \& emotional behavior, including emotional reactivity and emotion regulation, the present study aims to explore effects of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on emotion processing and emotional interference processing within a randomized double-blind, with-subject, placebo-controlled pharmaco-fMRI experiment. To further examine the potential moderating effects of the genetic makeup of the serotonin system the present study will include a pharmacogenetics imaging approach. Given that TPH2 is the key regulator of the serotonergic signaling pathway, we therefore assessed whether such the effects of tryptophan depletion vary according to the TPH2 genotype. To this end, healthy male TPH2-GG or TPH2-TT carriers will be recruited and will receive ATD (100g) and placebo (102.3g) in a within subject design. To control for potential effects of pre-medication personality traits as well as effects of medicines on mood, subjects will be administered pre-treatment assessing relevant personality traits and post-treatment assessments of mood.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders
* Right-handedness

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of head injury;
* Medical or psychiatric illness.
* High blood pressure, general cardio-vascular alterations
* History of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction.
* Allergy against medications or general strong allergies
* Sleep disorders.
* Visual or motor impairments

Primary outcomes:
measure: Neural processing during emotion processing as assessed via fMRI
timeFrame: 5-6h after administration of ATD, or placebo
measure: Neural processing during interference processing as assessed via fMRI
timeFrame: 5-6h after administration of ATD, or placebo
measure: Neural processing during the resting state as assessed via fMRI
timeFrame: 5-6h after administration of ATD, or placebo
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Behavioral interference performance
timeFrame: 5-6h after administration of ATD, or placebo
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Chengdu
country: China
facility: School of Life Science and Technology
state: Sichuan
Study officials:
References: