Monday, June 23, 2008
Finally, there exists a causal link between serotonin and impulsivity. The neurotransmitter serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain that regulates emotions and it has often been associated with social decision-making.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have shed more light on the ‘myth’ that people tend to become aggressive when they are hungry. Our serotonin levels decline when we do not eat because the essential amino acid used to create serotonin can be found in food, such as tryptophan rich products like poultry and chocolate.
The researchers of the study, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, manipulated the subjects’ diet in order to reduce serotonin levels. They then used the ‘Ultimatum game’ to study the subjects’ reactions to unfair behaviours. In this game, a player suggests a manner in which to divide a sum of money into two portions, one for themselves and another for the other player. If the other player agrees on the split they each keep their agreed-upon portion. If the other player disagrees with the split then no one gets paid. Typically, people tend to reject 50% of offers that are less than 20-30% of the total stake. However, with lowered serotonin, rates of rejection increased to over 80%. As per Molly Crockett, PhD student at Cambridge Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute:
"Our results suggest that serotonin plays a critical role in social decision-making by normally keeping aggressive social responses in check. Changes in diet and stress cause our serotonin levels to fluctuate naturally, so it’s important to understand how this might affect our every day decision-making" - Article
Now that proof exists that serotonin, which is manufactured through diet, affects the impulsivity of decision-making, it would be interesting to examine how this might apply to other situations involving choices, such as how much impact serotonin levels have on decision-making among users of cocaine, a known appetite suppressant.
© www.mentalhealthblog.com
Cocaine, Decision-Making, Diet, Impulsivity, Neurotransmitter, Serotonin
9 comments
9 comments:
Great summary Meg. Cocaine addiction, fad diets, eating disorders, indiscriminate supplementation..to name just a few other factors. Then there is the question of gene polymorphism and the short allele of the 5Ht-T (hydroxytryptophan transporter) gene. What happens when that individual with a suboptimal 5Ht transporter gene adopts a fad diet, while stressed to the max and depletes brain levels of serotonin with a drug addiction and is then elected leader of the free world? War? Economic upheaval?
Hi Kerry! Those are some great examples. It certainly is disturbing to think about how much of an impact this could have on society, let alone how much it impacts individuals personally. Great comment, thank you!
I had heard that serotonin was sometimes give to kids on the autism spectrum or for ADHD. Does that actually hold water?
Hi! I am Barry James. What a lovely posting. I liked it. Great stuff.
Yes, andreas, you are right. Serotonin has been linked to autism and ADHD.
Hi Barry! Thanks for the visit.
What about the implications on depression?
You're right, clueless. Serotonin seems to be one of the major players in mood and a variety of disorders so there could surely be a variety of differing implications.
Made an impulsive decision to change jobs and was fired from my last job for "impulsivity." Had exhibited symptoms of OCD also but never diagnosed. Taking SSRI for depression has helped with OCD symptoms (checking) but now wish I had sought help before retiring early from my "dream job." Could serotonin deficiencly have been at least partly "to blame?" This article makes me wonder.
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