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Effortful control as a dimension of temperament is negatively associated with prefrontal serotonin transporter availability in obese and non‐obese individuals
Author(s) -
Zientek Franziska,
Winter Karsten,
Müller Astrid,
Rullmann Michael,
Luthardt Julia,
Becker GeorgAlexander,
Bresch Anke,
Patt Marianne,
Sabri Osama,
Hilbert Anja,
Hesse Swen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.13362
Subject(s) - temperament , serotonin transporter , serotonergic , psychology , temperament and character inventory , body mass index , serotonin , obesity , clinical psychology , medicine , endocrinology , personality , psychoanalysis , receptor
There is evidence that temperamental factors are associated with obesity; however, the biological mechanism of such association remains elusive. We aimed to investigate a possible association between serotonin transmission and regulative temperament in obese and non‐obese individuals by using positron emission tomography ( PET ) imaging of serotonin transporters ( SERT ) and the Adult Temperament Questionnaire. Twenty‐nine obese individuals with body mass index ( BMI ) ≥ 35 kg/m 2 and 13 non‐obese controls ( BMI < 30 kg/m 2 ) underwent PET with [ 11 C]‐labeled DASB (highly selective for SERT ) and self‐completed the Effortful Control ( EC ) scale of the Adult Temperament Questionnaire‐Short Form ( ATQ ). With the help of this questionnaire, we aimed to assess the capacity of self‐regulation. Overall, for obese and non‐obese individuals together, VOI ‐based (volume of interest) analysis showed significant negative correlations between SERT BP ND and ATQ ‐ EC AC (Activation Control) subscale in several brain regions (all r ≤ −0.47). Obese and non‐obese individuals separated showed equally strong positive, but non‐significant correlations. The analysis did not reveal any significant correlations of SERT availability and ATQ ‐ EC IC (Inhibitory Control) or ATQ ‐ EC AtC (Attentional Control) subscale within and between the two groups. The results indicate that regulative temperament – particularly the capacity to mitigate negatively toned impulses and to resist inappropriate avoidance behavior – might be associated with the prefrontal serotonergic system.