Links between temperamental dimensions and brain monoamines in the rat

• In 27 female Wistar rats we obtained composite scores on harm avoidance and novelty seeking, as well as 57 measures of monoamines and metabolites from 10 different brain regions. A multivariate regression method was used to discover associations between individual differences in temperament and neurochemistry. Harm avoidant subjects had low levels of striatal dopamine, and high levels of cortical norepinephrine and amygdaloid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. High novelty seeking scores were linked to low levels of brainstem serotonin and dopamine, and to low levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in amygdala and accumbens. Moreover, rats scoring high on novelty seeking had higher-than-average levels of norepinephrine in the thalamus and amygdala, and of serotonin in the amygdala.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

brain monoamines

Temperament

nucleus-accumbens

novelty seeking

harm avoidance

personality-traits

ventral striatum

neuron number

clinical-data

dopamine

model

microdialysis

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)