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Abstract:
Abstract: The manner in which the neurotransmitter serotonin
(5HT) influences behavior is a matter of increasing debate and
clinical interest. Although the effects of commonly used 5HT
agonists on emotional processes are increasingly
well-characterized, effects on human cognition have not been widely
explored. This study addresses the roles of serotonin in cognition
by prospectively measuring behavioral changes in normal individuals
following systemic increases and decreases in 5HT activity using
acute tryptophan depletion and acute tryptophan augmentation. Under
the influence of these acute manipulations, individuals completed
tests of verbal, nonverbal, attentional, and motor functions as
well as tests of executive function including fluency, planning and
spatial working memory. Effects on central nervous system 5HT
activity were verified through the measurement of serum prolactin
secretion. Findings indicate that serotonin reactivity differs by
gender, with females more sensitive to both manipulations. The
facilitation of cognitive function by 5HT also appears to be
moderated by individual differences in emotional and personality
variables. The clinical implications of 5HT-induced cognitive
change will be discussed.
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