Abstract
Previous studies suggest that testosterone and several neurotransmitters might interactively influence human aggression. The current study aimed to test potential interactions of a genetic variation linked to the catabolism of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine and exogenous testosterone on the reaction towards non-social provocation. In total, 146 male participants were genotyped for a prominent polymorphism of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene resulting in a short and long variant. Participants completed a non-social frustration task after receiving either testosterone or a placebo gel in a double-blind set-up. Participants performed a non-social frustration task, where they had to direct a virtually moving ball into a barrel by pulling a joystick (neutral block). During a frustration block, the joystick repeatedly did not respond to participants’ reactions thereby causing failed trials to which participants reacted with increased anger and stronger pulling of the joystick. We analyzed the effect of testosterone administration on emotion and behavior in individuals who either carried a low (L) or high (H) activity MAOA variant. Testosterone administration increased provocation-related self-reported anger and abolished the association between trait aggression and joystick deflection in the frustration block. In MAOA-H carriers endogenous testosterone levels at baseline were associated with increased joystick deflection in both blocks. There was, however, no interaction of testosterone administration and genotype. Although preliminary, the results rather indicate independent influences of exogenous testosterone administration and MAOA, but support an interaction of endogenous testosterone levels and MAOA genetics in a frustration task. The administration of testosterone seems to act on the subjective emotional experience in a provoking situation, while endogenous testosterone levels increased pulling impulses only in carriers of the MAOA-H variant.
Highlights
The neurocognitive system ‘‘frustrative nonreward’’ is one of the subdomains defined by the research domain criteria (RDoC) that contribute to aggression
We aim to test for a possible interaction of testosterone administration with the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) VNTR during a non-social frustration task in which we previously found that testosterone increased the affective response anger
The current study aimed to investigate whether testosterone administration and the MAOA VNTR have interactive effects on emotion and behavior during a frustration task
Summary
The neurocognitive system ‘‘frustrative nonreward’’ is one of the subdomains defined by the research domain criteria (RDoC) that contribute to aggression. As one of five subdomains of the negative valence system, the concept of frustrative non-reward describes the situation in which an individual is impeded from obtaining a previously available award. This becomes especially relevant if frustration appears after repeated or sustained effort, which stays unrequited. Other important concepts in the negative valence system, which may activate a defensive aggressive response, are an acute or sustained threat, and—more ambiguous, distant, or uncertain—potential harm (Kozak and Cuthbert, 2016) Each of these conceptual domains may be defined by specific neurobiological substrates including genetic or hormonal modulators and reflect the full range of human behavior from normal to abnormal. The current study aims to characterize the influence of a genetic polymorphism and the steroid hormone testosterone and their potential interaction on affective and behavioral responses to sustained frustration in healthy young males
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
