Intensity dependence of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) as biological marker for cerebral serotonin levels: effects of tryptophan depletion in healthy subjects |
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| Authors: | Thomas Dierks Stefan Barta Lothar Demisch Klaus Schmeck Ekkehart Englert Andrea Kewitz Konrad Maurer Fritz Poustka |
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| Institution: | (1) Division of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany, DE;(2) Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy I, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany, DE;(3) Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany, DE;(4) Department of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, CH-3000 Bern, Switzerland, e-mail: dierks@puk.unibe.ch, Fax: +41-31-9309961, CH |
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| Abstract: | Rationale: The intensity dependence of the auditory evoked potentials (AEP) has been suggested to be a specific biological marker of
central serotonergic activity. Objective: While previous studies used circumstantial evidence to support this hypothesis, we manipulated (decreased) cerebral levels
of serotonin directly by using tryptophan depletion. Methods: Twelve healthy young subjects were investigated using placebo and two different amino acid mixtures in a double blind cross
over design on three different occasions. AEPs recorded during tryptophan depletion were analyzed by dipole analysis and regional
sources using methods published in the literature. Results: For none of the mixtures a significant effect of tryptophan depletion was found. There was a trend towards reduced intensity
dependency after tryptophan depletion, especially in the right hemisphere. This reduction correlated with the amount of reduced
tryptophan in plasma. Conclusions: The results indicate, in contrast to earlier indirect studies, that the intensity dependence of AEPs is not a specific marker
of central serotonergic activity.
Received: 8 March 1999 / Final version: 25 May 1999 |
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| Keywords: | Tryptophan depletion Serotonin Electroencephalography Auditory evoked potentials Dipole analysis |
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