Plieger Thomas, Melchers Martin, Vetterlein Annabel, Görtz Janina, Kuhn Sarah, Ruppel Melissa, Reuter Martin
Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University of Bonn, Germany.
Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University of Bonn, Germany.
Int J Psychophysiol. 2017 Apr;114:31-37. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2017.02.006. Epub 2017 Feb 9.
Emotion regulation is an important everyday-life skill to reduce harm and stress. Consequently, research shows associations between psychopathologies and emotional dysregulation. The serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) has repeatedly been associated to phenotypes and syndromes related to emotional dysregulation. However, there is no study showing any direct effects of 5-HTTLPR genotype and emotion regulation. Hence, the aim of the present study was to draw a link between 5-HTTLPR to emotion regulation.
N=91 healthy participants filled in a coping questionnaire, provided gene samples and participated in an emotion regulation experiment. In a within-subject design they viewed emotional pictures and were either instructed to suppress their emotions or not. During the emotion regulation task, skin conductance responses (SCR) were recorded.
Emotion regulation abilities measured by SCR were influenced by 5-HTTLPR and coping strategies, together explaining 30% of variance. S-allele carriers showed increased SCRs when watching aversive stimuli in the uninstructed condition. However, when receiving an emotion regulation instruction, they were able to downregulate their arousal resulting in comparable SCRs as observed in LL-carriers.
This is the first study showing an impact of 5-HTTLPR on physiological emotion regulation. Results show that S-allele carriers have the same emotional arousal as L-allele carriers, when they get a supportive instruction to suppress unwanted feelings. These findings have implications for psychotherapeutic treatments.
情绪调节是一项重要的日常生活技能，有助于减少伤害和压力。因此，研究表明精神病理学与情绪失调之间存在关联。血清素转运体多态性（5-HTTLPR）多次与情绪失调相关的表型和综合征有关。然而，尚无研究表明5-HTTLPR基因型与情绪调节有任何直接影响。因此，本研究的目的是建立5-HTTLPR与情绪调节之间的联系。
91名健康参与者填写了一份应对问卷，提供了基因样本，并参与了一项情绪调节实验。在一项被试内设计中，他们观看情绪图片，并被指示要么抑制情绪，要么不抑制。在情绪调节任务期间，记录皮肤电导反应（SCR）。
通过SCR测量的情绪调节能力受5-HTTLPR和应对策略的影响，二者共同解释了30%的方差。S等位基因携带者在未受指示的情况下观看厌恶刺激时，SCR增加。然而，当接受情绪调节指示时，他们能够下调自身的唤醒水平，从而产生与LL等位基因携带者相当的SCR。
这是第一项表明5-HTTLPR对生理性情绪调节有影响的研究。结果表明，当S等位基因携带者得到抑制不良情绪的支持性指示时，他们的情绪唤醒水平与L等位基因携带者相同。这些发现对心理治疗具有启示意义。
