Serotonin transporter availability in the midbrain and perceived social support in healthy volunteers

Objective: Serotonin modulates human behavior and emotion. Recent evidence implies that a higher level of serotonergic activity could be associated with a higher level of perceived social support. This study aimed to examine the correlation between serotonin transporter (SERT) availability and perceived social support scores in healthy volunteers. Methods: 111 healthy participants, 50 males and 61 females, were enrolled from the community and completed the Measurement of Support Function questionnaire. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with [¹²³I] ADAM was performed to examine SERT availability. Results: Perceived social support was positively correlated with SERT availability (Spearman's ρ=0.29, p<0.01; χ²=7.57, p<0.01), particularly in males (Spearman's ρ=0.37, p<0 .01; χ²=11.77, p<0.01). Censored regressions indicated that these associations are not influenced by a ceiling effect and remained significant after controlling the effect of age. Conclusions: This result confirmed the correlation between perceived social support and central serotonergic activity. However, this correlation was present only in males.