Tryptophan, serotonin and human social behavior

Tryptophan, serotonin and human social behavior

Animals research suggests that increasing serotonin can decrease aggression, increase affiliative behaviors and increase dominant behaviors. We tested the relevance of these data to humans by giving 100 healthy people tryptophan (1 g after each meal) and placebo, each for 12 days in a double-blind c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advances in experimental medicine and biology Vol. 527; p. 215
Main Authors: Moskowitz, Deborah S, Pinard, Gilbert, Zuroff, David C, Annable, Lawrence, Young, Simon N
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 2003
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Affect - drug effects
Affect - physiology
Aged
Aggression - drug effects
Aggression - physiology
Animals
Cross-Over Studies
Double-Blind Method
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Serotonin - physiology
Social Behavior
Social Dominance
Tryptophan - pharmacology
Tryptophan - physiology
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Summary:Animals research suggests that increasing serotonin can decrease aggression, increase affiliative behaviors and increase dominant behaviors. We tested the relevance of these data to humans by giving 100 healthy people tryptophan (1 g after each meal) and placebo, each for 12 days in a double-blind cross-over study. Social behaviors were studied using an event sampling method in which subjects filled in a one page questionnaire about their behaviors after each social interaction lasting at least 5 minutes. Tryptophan caused a significant decrease in quarrelsome behaviors and a significant increase in dominant behaviors.
ISSN:0065-2598
DOI:10.1007/978-1-4615-0135-0_25