Acute augmentation of serotonin suppresses cardiovascular responses to emotional valence

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Title: Acute augmentation of serotonin suppresses cardiovascular responses to emotional valence
Author(s): Kemp, Andrew H.; Nathan, Pradeep J.
Abstract: A key component in visceral reactivity to emotional states is heart rate (HR), however little is known about how HR response to emotional stimuli is modulated by neurochemicals. The present study investigated the way in which acute enhancement of serotonin (5-HT) function with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) modulates the HR associated with differently valent images (pleasant, neutral, unpleasant). Sixteen healthy participants viewed 75 images whilst HR was recorded. Participants were tested under two single-dose treatment conditions: placebo and citalopram (20 mg). Our findings suggest: (1) HR is able to differentiate differently valent images during placebo treatment and, (2) administration of citalopram suppresses the differences in HR between differently valent images. These results suggest that 5-HT may modulate the cardiovascular HR response to visual emotional stimuli and indicate that 5-HT may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular responses to emotional stimuli.
Publication type: Journal article
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
Source: International journal of neuropsychopharmacology, Vol. 7, no. 1 (2004), pp. 65-70
Publication year: 2004
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Format: pp. 65-70
ISSN: 1461-1457
Publisher URL: International journal of neuropsychopharmacology
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1017/S1461145703003894
Peer reviewed