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Prefrontal cortical areas in humans and animals exert inhibitory control over the amygdala, which plays an important role in processing negative emotion and producing aggressive behavior. In a PET study, researchers examined correlations between prefrontal cortical and amygdala activity in 26 patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and documented problems with impulsive aggression, and in 24 controls. Participants underwent PET scanning on two occasions: after placebo infusions and after infusions of meta-chloropiperazine (mCPP), a serotonin receptor-2 agonist. Patients with BPD have a core defect in emotion regulation and reduced serotonergic responsivity.
After placebo, controls showed an expected positive coupling of activity …