TY - JOUR
T1 - Testosterone exposure, dopaminergic reward, and sensation-seeking in young men
AU - Campbell, Benjamin C.
AU - Dreber, Anna
AU - Apicella, Coren L.
AU - Eisenberg, Dan T A
AU - Gray, Peter B.
AU - Little, Anthony C.
AU - Garcia, Justin R.
AU - Zamore, Richard S.
AU - Lum, J. Koji
PY - 2010/3/30
Y1 - 2010/3/30
N2 - To test the relationship between androgen exposure, dopaminergic reward and sensation-seeking, we compared variation in salivary testosterone (T), 2D:4D digit ratio, facial masculinity, Zuckerman's sensation-seeking scale (SSS) and the D4 dopamine receptor (DRD4) genes from 98 young men, between the ages of 18 and 23 years. In univariate analyses, both salivary T and facial masculinity were significantly correlated with the SSS boredom susceptibility subscale, while the presence of the 7-repeat allele (7R+) in the dopamine receptor D4 gene was associated with the SSS thrill and adventure-seeking and overall sensation-seeking. Neither left nor right 2D:4D digit ratio was associated with any sensation-seeking scale. In multivariate models, salivary T and facial masculinity were significant predictors of SSS boredom susceptibility, while 7R+ was a significant predictor of SSS thrill and adventure-seeking. For overall SSS, both 7R+ and salivary T were significant predictors. There was no significant interaction of 7R+ and androgen exposure for SSS or any of the SSS subscales. These results add to earlier reports of an association between T and sensation-seeking. In addition, our results also indicate that genetic variation in DRD4 is independently associated with SSS sensation-seeking.
AB - To test the relationship between androgen exposure, dopaminergic reward and sensation-seeking, we compared variation in salivary testosterone (T), 2D:4D digit ratio, facial masculinity, Zuckerman's sensation-seeking scale (SSS) and the D4 dopamine receptor (DRD4) genes from 98 young men, between the ages of 18 and 23 years. In univariate analyses, both salivary T and facial masculinity were significantly correlated with the SSS boredom susceptibility subscale, while the presence of the 7-repeat allele (7R+) in the dopamine receptor D4 gene was associated with the SSS thrill and adventure-seeking and overall sensation-seeking. Neither left nor right 2D:4D digit ratio was associated with any sensation-seeking scale. In multivariate models, salivary T and facial masculinity were significant predictors of SSS boredom susceptibility, while 7R+ was a significant predictor of SSS thrill and adventure-seeking. For overall SSS, both 7R+ and salivary T were significant predictors. There was no significant interaction of 7R+ and androgen exposure for SSS or any of the SSS subscales. These results add to earlier reports of an association between T and sensation-seeking. In addition, our results also indicate that genetic variation in DRD4 is independently associated with SSS sensation-seeking.
KW - Dopaminergic reward system
KW - DRD4
KW - Sensation-seeking
KW - Testosterone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=76749159840&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.12.011
U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.12.011
DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.12.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 20026092
AN - SCOPUS:76749159840
SN - 0031-9384
VL - 99
SP - 451
EP - 456
JO - Physiology and Behavior
JF - Physiology and Behavior
IS - 4
ER -