Allelic variation in the serotonin transporter promoter modulates cortical excitability.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that may be used to study individual differences in motor cortex excitability. Such differences are assumed to reflect serotonergic and other inputs to the motor cortex. METHODS: Here we investigate the impact of a functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) on measures of motor cortex excitability. RESULTS: Sixty healthy subjects carrying one or two copies of the short 5-HTTLPR allele (s/s and s/l) showed a significant reduction in short intracortical inhibition (SICI, p = .012) and an increased cortical silent period (p = .042) compared with 60 age- and sex-matched individuals homozygous for the long allele (l/l). In contrast, motor threshold and intracortical facilitation did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide further evidence of a role for serotonergic transmission in the modulation of cortical excitability. Differential effects on the measures under study suggest a pattern of prioritization in bioamine regulation of cortical inhibition.

Author information

Author/s: Langguth, Berthold (B); Sand, Philipp (P); Marek, Roger (R); Landgrebe, Michael (M); Frank, Elmar (E); Hajak, Göran (G); Eichhammer, Peter (P);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 84, Regensburg D-93053, Germany. Berthold.Langguth(-atsign-)medbo.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 66 (issue 3) : pp 283-6

Dates: Created 2009/07/06; Completed 2009/10/13;

PMID: 19306990, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/13/2009, IMS Date: )

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