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Tryptophan, Serotonin, and Melatonin pp 57–65Cite as

Plasma L-Tryptophan Depletion and Aggression

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 467))

Abstract

There is a well-established relationship between aggression and lowered serotonin neurotransmission. Recently developed methodologies for manipulating L-tryptophan levels (and brain serotonin) have been applied to human laboratory studies of aggression. Collectively, these studies provide further evidence for the serotonin-aggression relationship. Two important findings have been made recently: (1) subsets of individuals (e.g., persons self-rating high on aggressive or hostility scales) may differ in their susceptibility to aggression produced through plasma tryptophan depletion; and (2) alcohol in combination with L-tryptophan depletion has an additive effect on aggression. All previous studies have been conducted with men. Extending these studies to women appears to be the much-needed next step given that serotonergic levels appear to vary both as a function of the menstrual cycle phase and menstrual symptomatology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas—Houston Medical School, 1300 Moursund Street, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA

    Donald M. Dougherty, F. Gerard Moeller, James M. Bjork & Dawn M. Marsh

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  1. Donald M. Dougherty
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  2. F. Gerard Moeller
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  3. James M. Bjork
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  4. Dawn M. Marsh
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

    Gerald Huether

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Walter Kochen

  3. Department of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Thomas J. Simat

  4. Department of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Hans Steinhart

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Dougherty, D.M., Moeller, F.G., Bjork, J.M., Marsh, D.M. (1999). Plasma L-Tryptophan Depletion and Aggression. In: Huether, G., Kochen, W., Simat, T.J., Steinhart, H. (eds) Tryptophan, Serotonin, and Melatonin. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 467. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4709-9_7

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