Acute effect of altered tryptophan levels and alcohol on aggression in normal human males

Normal males received amino acid mixtures designed to raise or lower tryptophan availability, and thus to raise or lower brain serotonin synthesis. They also received alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. The subjects were tested in the Taylor Competitive Reaction Time Task in which they competed again...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychopharmacologia 1995-06, Vol.119 (4), p.353-360
Main Authors: PIHL, R. O, YOUNG, S. N, HARDEN, P, PLOTNICK, S, CHAMBERLAIN, B, ERVIN, F. R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aggression
Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning
Biological and medical sciences
Electroshock
Ethanol - pharmacology
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Reaction Time
Serotonin - metabolism
Toxicology
Tryptophan - pharmacology
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Summary:Normal males received amino acid mixtures designed to raise or lower tryptophan availability, and thus to raise or lower brain serotonin synthesis. They also received alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. The subjects were tested in the Taylor Competitive Reaction Time Task in which they competed against a (non-existent) partner in a reaction time task. The magnitude of electric shocks that the subjects were willing to give to their bogus partner was used as a measure of aggression. Lowered tryptophan levels and ingestion of alcohol were associated with increased aggression. Our data support the idea that low serotonin levels may be involved in the etiology of aggression. They suggest that subjects with low brain serotonin levels may be particularly susceptible to alcohol-induced violence.
ISSN:0033-3158
1432-2072
DOI:10.1007/BF02245849