![Image](https://www.worldsupporter.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bundle/wereldbol_summaries_joho_single_boek_1_150x190px_0.png?itok=PgQm9J5z)
Tryptophan is prescribed as an antidepressant in some countries. Studies have shown a reappearance of depressive symptoms after acute tryptophan depletion and a mood-lowering effect in healthy, non-depressed participants. However, there is research that indicates that it might just work as an adjunct to other antidepressant treatments, and not as a primary treatment.
There is evidence that suggests that tryptophan is involved in emotional biases in the perception of socially relevant stimuli. This points to an induction of a negative perceptual bias in the procession of emotional material.
This research
Previous research has shown that serotonergic antidepressants have the opposite effect on information processing and induce a positive bias on several emotion-related tasks. What is not known however, is whether increasing serotonin synthesis has the same effects on emotional processing to those seen after the inhibition of serotonin reuptake. This will be researched here. The hypothesis is that tryptophan will induce cognitive changes and emotional biases opposite to those found in depression and characteristics of those induced by serotonergic antidepressants. They will also be investigating a gender difference, since previous research has indicated that women are more effected by acute tryptophan depletion than men.
Discussion
The results show that repeated administration of tryptophan gives a positive bias in the processing of emotional material in women, but not in men. In women, the tryptophan increased recognition of positive facial expressions and decreased recognition of negative facial expressions. It also lowered attentional vigilance towards negative words, and decreased baseline startle responsivity. The results suggest that just like other serotonergic antidepressants, tryptophan can directly modulate the processing of emotional material. However, the results also indicate that it may be a milder manipulation of the serotonergic system than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
The effects of tryptophan were only seen in females. Also the mood-lowering effects were more consistent in women than in men. This may be because acute tryptophan depletion has a greater biochemical effect in women than in men, or because women have a better clinical response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors than men.
Results indicate that tryptophan supplementation has bigger effects on emotional processing in women than men. This should play a role in the therapeutic consideration when tryptophan is being used.
JoHo can really use your help! Check out the various student jobs here that match your studies, improve your competencies, strengthen your CV and contribute to a more tolerant world
![Image](https://www.worldsupporter.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bundle/wereldbol_summaries_joho_single_boek_1_150x190px_0.png?itok=PgQm9J5z)
Applied Cognitive Psychology: Article summaries
Article summaries with the Leiden University bachelor course: Applied Cognitive Psychology
- 1 of 2159
- volgende ›
Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams
- Check out: Register with JoHo WorldSupporter: starting page (EN)
- Check out: Aanmelden bij JoHo WorldSupporter - startpagina (NL)
Using and finding summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter
There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.
- Starting Pages: for some fields of study and some university curricula editors have created (start) magazines where customised selections of summaries are put together to smoothen navigation. When you have found a magazine of your likings, add that page to your favorites so you can easily go to that starting point directly from your profile during future visits. Below you will find some start magazines per field of study
- Use the menu above every page to go to one of the main starting pages
- Tags & Taxonomy: gives you insight in the amount of summaries that are tagged by authors on specific subjects. This type of navigation can help find summaries that you could have missed when just using the search tools. Tags are organised per field of study and per study institution. Note: not all content is tagged thoroughly, so when this approach doesn't give the results you were looking for, please check the search tool as back up
- Follow authors or (study) organizations: by following individual users, authors and your study organizations you are likely to discover more relevant study materials.
- Search tool : 'quick & dirty'- not very elegant but the fastest way to find a specific summary of a book or study assistance with a specific course or subject. The search tool is also available at the bottom of most pages
Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?
- Check out: Why and how to add a WorldSupporter contributions
- JoHo members: JoHo WorldSupporter members can share content directly and have access to all content: Join JoHo and become a JoHo member
- Non-members: When you are not a member you do not have full access, but if you want to share your own content with others you can fill out the contact form
Quicklinks to fields of study (main tags and taxonomy terms)
Field of study
- Communication & Media sciences
- Corporate & Organizational Sciences
- Cultural Studies & Humanities
- Economy & Economical sciences
- Education & Pedagogic Sciences
- Health & Medical Sciences
- IT & Exact sciences
- Law & Justice
- Nature & Environmental Sciences
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
- Public Administration & Social Sciences
- Science & Research
- Technical Sciences
Add new contribution