Relationship of serum serotonin and salivary cortisol with sensation seeking

The present study was conducted to investigate the possible relationship of serum serotonin and salivary cortisol with the sensation seeking (SS) trait. Blood and saliva samples were taken from 57 male volunteers (mean age 23 ± 5 years) to measure serum serotonin and salivary cortisol concentrations. Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS-V) was used to assess SS. Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed that high serum serotonin levels did not correlate significantly with low SS scores (r = 0.12). However, a negative correlation between SS scores and salivary cortisol levels (r = − 0.34, p < 0.01) was significant, suggesting that high SS scores are related to low concentrations of salivary cortisol. The negative correlation between salivary cortisol and SS is clearly compatible with the optimal level of Catecholamine system activity (CSA), component of SS theory, indicating that high sensation seekers (HSSers) tend to seek excitement and novelty to compensate for the shortage of CSA achieving optimal arousal. Further investigation is needed before conclusions can be drawn regarding the relationship of serum serotonin and SS.

► The present study investigates the relationship of serotonin and cortisol with SS. ► High SS correlates with lower levels of salivary cortisol not lower serum serotonin. ► Serum serotonin did not correlate with SS scores in natural conditions. ► HSSers tend to seek excitement and novelty to compensate for the shortage of CSA.