Human hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone levels are linked to emotion and social interaction

Ashley M. Blouin, Itzhak Fried, Charles L. Wilson, Richard J. Staba, Eric J. Behnke, Hoa A. Lam, Nigel T. Maidment, Karl Æ. Karlsson, Jennifer L. Lapierre and Jerome M. Siegel ()
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Ashley M. Blouin: University of California at Los Angeles
Itzhak Fried: University of California at Los Angeles
Charles L. Wilson: Brain Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles
Richard J. Staba: University of California at Los Angeles
Eric J. Behnke: University of California at Los Angeles
Hoa A. Lam: University of California at Los Angeles
Nigel T. Maidment: University of California at Los Angeles
Karl Æ. Karlsson: University of California at Los Angeles
Jennifer L. Lapierre: University of California at Los Angeles
Jerome M. Siegel: University of California at Los Angeles

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The neurochemical changes underlying human emotions and social behaviour are largely unknown. Here we report on the changes in the levels of two hypothalamic neuropeptides, hypocretin-1 and melanin-concentrating hormone, measured in the human amygdala. We show that hypocretin-1 levels are maximal during positive emotion, social interaction and anger, behaviours that induce cataplexy in human narcoleptics. In contrast, melanin-concentrating hormone levels are minimal during social interaction, but are increased after eating. Both peptides are at minimal levels during periods of postoperative pain despite high levels of arousal. Melanin-concentrating hormone levels increase at sleep onset, consistent with a role in sleep induction, whereas hypocretin-1 levels increase at wake onset, consistent with a role in wake induction. Levels of these two peptides in humans are not simply linked to arousal, but rather to specific emotions and state transitions. Other arousal systems may be similarly emotionally specialized.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2461

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