Abstract #4161

fMRI Reveals That Basolateral Amygdala Responsiveness to Aversive Stimuli as a Neural Correlate of Trait Anxiety is Modulated by Neuropeptide S (NPS) Receptor Genotype

Harald Kugel¹, Udo Dannlowski², Friederike Franke², Christa Hohoff², Peter Zwanzger², Thomas Lenzen², Dominik Grotegerd², Thomas Suslow^2,3, Volker Arolt², Walter Heindel¹, Katharina Domschke²

¹Dept. of Clinical Radiology, University of Muenster, Muenster, NRW, Germany; ²Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Muenster, Muenster, NRW, Germany; ³Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, SN, Germany

Anxiety disorders are debilitating psychiatric diseases that are related with hyperactivity of the amygdala, a central structure in the fear circuit. The neuropeptide S (NPS) is highly expressed in the amygdala, and a functional polymorphism in the NPS receptor gene has been associated with panic disorder and anxiety sensitivity. fMRI revealed a strong association of NPSR T alleles with right amygdala responsiveness to fear-relevant faces. The association peak was located in the basolateral amygdala. NPSR rs324981 apparently causes an indirect effect on trait anxiety and potentially contributes to the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders.