Connection Failure: Differences in White Matter Microstructure Are Associated with 5-HTTLPR but Not with Risk Seeking for Losses

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

S/S carriers of 5-HTTLPR have been found to be more risk seeking for losses compared to L/L carriers. This finding may be the result of reduced top-down control from the frontal cortex due to altered signal pathways involving the amygdala and ventral striatum. The serotonergic system is known to be involved in neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether structural differences in white matter can explain the differences in risk-seeking behaviour. Lower structural connectivity in S/S compared to L/L carriers and a negative relationship between risk seeking for losses and connectivity were assumed. Diffusion-weighted imaging was used to compute diffusion parameters for the frontostriatal and uncinate tract in 175 genotyped individuals. The results showed no significant relationship between diffusion parameters and risk seeking for losses. Furthermore, we did not find significant differences in diffusion parameters of the S/S vs. L/L group. There were only group differences in the frontostriatal tract showing stronger structural connectivity in the S/L group, which is also reflected in the whole brain approach. Therefore, the data do not support the hypothesis that the association between 5-HTTLPR and risk seeking for losses is related to differences in white matter pathways implicated in decision-making.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number6666
JournalInternational journal of molecular sciences
Volume25
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - 18 Jun 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC11203796
Scopus 85197187708
ORCID /0000-0001-5398-5569/work/175768371

Keywords

Keywords

  • Adult, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Female, Genotype, Humans, Male, Risk-Taking, Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics, White Matter/diagnostic imaging