A polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene moderates cardiovascular reactivity to psychosocial stress.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine whether a polymorphism (5-HTTLPR: serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region) in the promoter of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) moderates cardiovascular reactivity to social threat.

Methods

Psychologically healthy young adults delivered a speech and performed mental arithmetic in one of three conditions: a) an evaluative audience condition that gave disapproving and negative nonverbal social signals (n = 59); b) an evaluative audience condition that provided supportive social signals (n = 60); or c) a no audience condition (n = 65). Heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) were measured before, during, and after the stress tasks to assess cardiovascular reactivity and recovery.

Results

In the negative audience

SUBMITTER: Way BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3090451 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature