TY - JOUR

T1 - On the learning of addictive behavior

T2 - Sensation-seeking propensity predicts dopamine turnover in dorsal striatum

AU - Chang, Natalie Hong Siu

AU - Kumakura, Yoshitaka

AU - Møller, Arne

AU - Linnet, Jakob

AU - Bender, Dirk

AU - Doudet, Doris J.

AU - Vafaee, Manouchehr Seyedi

AU - Gjedde, Albert

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - We asked if sensation-seeking is linked to premorbid personality characteristics in patients with addictive disorders, or the characteristics follow the sensation-seeking activity. We interpreted the former as a state associated with normal rates of dopamine synthesis, and the latter as a trait of individuals with abnormally high rates of synthesis. We previously determined dopaminergic receptor density in striatum, and we now tested the hypothesis that an elevated dopaminergic condition with increased extracellular dopamine and receptor density follows increased dopamine synthesis capacity in highly sensation-seeking individuals, as measured by positron emission tomography of 18 men with tracer fluorodopa (FDOPA). We detected a site in left caudate nucleus where the volume of distribution of FDOPA-derived metabolites correlated negatively with FDOPA metabolite turnover, consistent with decreased metabolite breakdown in highly sensation-seeking subjects. High rates of sensation-seeking attenuated the dopamine turnover in association with a low rate of dopamine recycling, low dopamine oxidation, and elevated extracellular dopamine and receptors in caudate nucleus. In contrast, low rates of sensation-seeking were associated with rapid dopamine recycling, rapid dopamine oxidation, low extracellular dopamine, and low receptor density. We conclude that the modulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission associated with sensation-seeking is a state of sensation-seeking, rather than a trait of personality following abnormal regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission.

AB - We asked if sensation-seeking is linked to premorbid personality characteristics in patients with addictive disorders, or the characteristics follow the sensation-seeking activity. We interpreted the former as a state associated with normal rates of dopamine synthesis, and the latter as a trait of individuals with abnormally high rates of synthesis. We previously determined dopaminergic receptor density in striatum, and we now tested the hypothesis that an elevated dopaminergic condition with increased extracellular dopamine and receptor density follows increased dopamine synthesis capacity in highly sensation-seeking individuals, as measured by positron emission tomography of 18 men with tracer fluorodopa (FDOPA). We detected a site in left caudate nucleus where the volume of distribution of FDOPA-derived metabolites correlated negatively with FDOPA metabolite turnover, consistent with decreased metabolite breakdown in highly sensation-seeking subjects. High rates of sensation-seeking attenuated the dopamine turnover in association with a low rate of dopamine recycling, low dopamine oxidation, and elevated extracellular dopamine and receptors in caudate nucleus. In contrast, low rates of sensation-seeking were associated with rapid dopamine recycling, rapid dopamine oxidation, low extracellular dopamine, and low receptor density. We conclude that the modulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission associated with sensation-seeking is a state of sensation-seeking, rather than a trait of personality following abnormal regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission.

KW - Neuroscience

KW - Brain imaging

KW - Sensation-seeking

KW - Dopamine transmission

KW - POSITRON-EMISSION-TOMOGRAPHY

KW - DECARBOXYLASE ACTIVITY

KW - PARKINSONS-DISEASE

KW - SUBSTANCE-ABUSE

KW - D-AMPHETAMINE

KW - LIVING BRAIN

KW - DRUG-ABUSE

KW - BASE-LINE

KW - PET

KW - METABOLISM

U2 - 10.1007/s11682-021-00509-5

DO - 10.1007/s11682-021-00509-5

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34417966

VL - 16

SP - 355

EP - 365

JO - Brain Imaging and Behavior

JF - Brain Imaging and Behavior

SN - 1931-7557

ER -