Serotonin, Serotonin Genetics(TPH2) and Emotion and Interference Processing

Healthy Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Influence of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on Emotion and Interference Processing and Potential Moderation by 5HT Genetics (TPH2)

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03549182
• Other study ID #: UESTC-neuSCAN-51
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 1, 2017
• Est. completion date: December 1, 2021

Study information

• Verified date: December 2020
• Source: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
• Contact: Benjamin Becker, Dr.
• Phone: 86-28-61830988
• Email: ben_becker[@]gmx.de
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 50
• Est. completion date: December 1, 2021
• Est. primary completion date: June 1, 2021
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Male
• Age group: 18 Years to 30 Years

Eligibility

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Healthy

Intervention

Drug:
• ATD treatment
oral administration of ATD (100g)(Acute Tryptophan Depletion)
• placebo treatment
oral administration of placebo (102.3g)

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
China	School of Life Science and Technology	Chengdu	Sichuan

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Country where clinical trial is conducted

China, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Neural processing during emotion processing as assessed via fMRI	Subjects will undergo a validated emotional face paradigm. To assess genotype x ATD interaction effects on neural emotional reactivity effects of ATD depletion on the corresponding neural activity will be compared between the TPH2 genotype groups.	5-6h after administration of ATD, or placebo
Primary	Neural processing during interference processing as assessed via fMRI	Subjects will undergo a validated cognitive-emotional interference paradigm. To assess genotype x ATD interaction effects on neural interference control effects of ATD depletion on the corresponding neural activity will be compared between the TPH2 genotype groups.	5-6h after administration of ATD, or placebo
Primary	Neural processing during the resting state as assessed via fMRI	Subjects will undergo a validated resting state assessment. To assess genotype x ATD interaction effects on intrinsic brain activity in the emotion and interreference related neural networks effects of ATD depletion on the corresponding neural activity will be compared between the TPH2 genotype groups.	5-6h after administration of ATD, or placebo
Secondary	Behavioral interference performance	Subjects will undergo a emotion-cognition interference paradigm. To assess genotype x ATD interaction effects on behavioral indices of interference (congruent vs incongruent trials) behavioral performance (accuracy/reaction time) effects of ATD depletion on the corresponding behavioral indices will be compared between the TPH2 genotype groups.	5-6h after administration of ATD, or placebo