Chunk #25 — Discussion — Selective effects of recent life events related to financial difficulties in interaction with the 5-HTTLPR genotype in the development of depressive symptoms
Imaging studies support the well-known difference between early and recent life events in the interaction with 5-HTTLPR and also provide evidence that both influence central nervous system activation in regions important in depression.47 Stressful recent life events, measured by a self-report questionnaire, were found to interact with 5-HTTLPR genotype on hippocampus and amygdala resting-state activation, and an interaction effect on the functional connectivity of the hippocampus and the amygdala with a wide network of several brain regions and grey matter structural characteristics was also reported.48 Increased functional coupling between the right amygdala and the hypothalamus was found in response to fearful faces in s allele carriers and in ss genotype carriers exposed to a higher number of self-reported stressful life events measured by a self-report life events checklist.49 Stressful life events, measured by a structured interview based on a life-chart method, interacted with the 5-HTTLPR genotype on the structural connectivity between the hippocampus and the amygdala as well as the putamen, and also on the functional connectivity of the parahippocampus with the posterior cingulate cortex.50 These studies provide a strong
