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Ortega-Mora EI, Caballero-Sánchez U, Román-López TV, Rosas-Escobar CB, González-Barrios JA, Romero-Hidalgo S, Méndez-Díaz M, Prospéro-García OE, Ruiz-Contreras AE. Allele-dosage genetic polymorphisms of cannabinoid receptor 1 predict attention, but not working memory performance in humans. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2021; 216:103299. [PMID: 33799104 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention and working memory (WM) are under high genetic regulation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CNR1 gene, that encode for CB1R, have previously been shown to be related with individual differences in attentional control and WM. However, it remains unclear whether there is an allele-dosage or a dominant contribution of polymorphisms of CNR1 affecting attention and WM performance. This study evaluated the associations between attention and WM performance and three SNPs of CNR1: rs1406977, rs2180619, and rs1049353, previously associated with both processes. Healthy volunteers (n = 127) were asked to perform the Attention Network Task (ANT) to evaluate their overall attention and alerting, orienting, and executive systems, and the n-back task for evaluating their WM. All subjects were genotyped using qPCR with TaqMan assays; and dominant and additive models were assessed using the risk alleles of each SNP as the predictor variable. Results showed an individual association of the three SNPs with attention performance, but the composite genotype by the three alleles had the greatest contribution. Moreover, the additive-dosage model showed that for each G-allele added to the genotypic configuration, there was an increase in the percentage of correct responses respect to carriers who have no risk alleles in their genotypic configuration. The number of risk alleles in the genotypic configurations did not predict efficiency in any of the attention systems, nor in WM performance. Our model showed a contribution of three single nucleotide polymorphisms of the CNR1 gene to explain 9% of the variance of attention in an additive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Ivett Ortega-Mora
- Lab. Neurogenómica Cognitiva, Coord. Psicobiología y Neurociencias, Fac. Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Ulises Caballero-Sánchez
- Lab. Neurogenómica Cognitiva, Coord. Psicobiología y Neurociencias, Fac. Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Talía V Román-López
- Lab. Neurogenómica Cognitiva, Coord. Psicobiología y Neurociencias, Fac. Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Cintia B Rosas-Escobar
- Lab. Neurogenómica Cognitiva, Coord. Psicobiología y Neurociencias, Fac. Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Antonio González-Barrios
- Lab. Medicina Genómica, Hospital Regional 1o de Octubre, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Mexico
| | - Sandra Romero-Hidalgo
- Departamento de Genómica Computacional, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico
| | | | | | - Alejandra E Ruiz-Contreras
- Lab. Neurogenómica Cognitiva, Coord. Psicobiología y Neurociencias, Fac. Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico.
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Colliva C, Ferrari M, Benatti C, Guerra A, Tascedda F, Blom JMC. Executive functioning in children with epilepsy: Genes matter. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 95:137-147. [PMID: 31054523 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric epilepsy has emerged as a chronic medical disease with a characteristic behavioral and cognitive phenotype, which includes compromised executive functioning (EF) and attention-related deficits. However, considerable interindividual variability exists; children often display very different or even opposite outcomes, and some children are more likely than others to develop neurocognitive problems in the face of similar individual and disease-related problems. The factors responsible for this interindividual variability are still largely unknown, but we do know that some genetic factors render the developing brain more susceptible to damage or traumatic experiences than others. Dopamine availability has a neuromodulatory function in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and especially affects EF. Dopamine availability relates to polymorphisms in the gene encoding catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT Val158Met), which in turn is affected by the methylation state of its promoter. Allelic variation of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) gene, alters methylation and may influence the methylation state of the COMT promoter. Given this, we tested the hypothesis that these polymorphisms interact in children with epilepsy, and that variability in allelic expression is associated with variability in cognitive phenotype. Executive function was tested directly and indirectly (parent-rated) in 42 children between 5 and 12 years of age. The MTHFR T allele carriers performed worse than MTHFR homozygous CC carriers on indirect EF, and a significant decline was observed when T allele carriers had at least one met allele of the COMT gene, especially on Working Memory. Direct EF was significantly compromised in COMT Val/Val carriers where reduced dopamine availability seems to confer a higher risk in a test that requests a high degree of executive attention and planning. This finding suggests that in children with epilepsy, genes that influence methylation and dopamine availability affect PFC-related EF. Therefore, we should consider genetic vulnerability as a polygenic risk, which might predispose for a particular phenotype and include specific genetic signatures as part of each patient's behavioral and cognitive profile from the moment that we start to take care of the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Colliva
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Benatti
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Azzurra Guerra
- Dept. of Medical and Surgical science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Joan M C Blom
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Dept. of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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Zhang X, Nielsen DA, Domingo CB, Shorter DI, Nielsen EM, Kosten TR. Pharmacogenetics of Dopamine β-Hydroxylase in cocaine dependence therapy with doxazosin. Addict Biol 2019; 24:531-538. [PMID: 29498170 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The α1 -adrenergic antagonist, doxazosin, has improved cocaine use disorder (CUD) presumably by blocking norepinephrine (NE) stimulation and reward from cocaine-induced NE increases. If the NE levels for release were lower, then doxazosin might more readily block this NE stimulation and be more effective. The NE available for release can be lower through a genetic polymorphism in dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) (C-1021T, rs1611115), which reduces DβH's conversion of dopamine to NE. We hypothesize that doxazosin would be more effective in CUD patients who have these genetically lower DβH levels. This 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial included 76 CUD patients: 49 with higher DβH levels from the DBH CC genotype and 27 with lower DβH levels from T-allele carriers (CT or TT). Patients were randomized to doxazosin (8 mg/day, N = 47) or placebo (N = 29) and followed with thrice weekly urine toxicology and once weekly cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Cocaine use was reduced at a higher rate among patients in the doxazosin than in the placebo arm. We found significantly lower cocaine use rates among patients carrying the T-allele (CT/TT) than the CC genotype. The percentage of cocaine positive urines was reduced by 41 percent from baseline in the CT/TT group with low DβH and NE levels, as compared with no net reduction in the CC genotype group with normal DβH and NE levels. The DBH polymorphism appears play an important role in CUD patients' response to doxazosin treatment, supporting a pharmacogenetic association and potential application for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Zhang
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston TX USA
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBaylor College of Medicine Houston TX USA
| | - David A. Nielsen
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston TX USA
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBaylor College of Medicine Houston TX USA
| | - Coreen B. Domingo
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston TX USA
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBaylor College of Medicine Houston TX USA
| | - Daryl I. Shorter
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston TX USA
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBaylor College of Medicine Houston TX USA
| | - Ellen M. Nielsen
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston TX USA
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBaylor College of Medicine Houston TX USA
| | - Thomas R. Kosten
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Houston TX USA
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBaylor College of Medicine Houston TX USA
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Schmitz J, Kumsta R, Moser D, Güntürkün O, Ocklenburg S. DNA methylation of dopamine-related gene promoters is associated with line bisection deviation in healthy adults. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5902. [PMID: 30976054 PMCID: PMC6459813 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42553-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Handedness and language lateralization are the most investigated phenotypes among functional hemispheric asymmetries, i.e. differences in function between the left and the right half of the human brain. Both phenotypes are left hemisphere-dominant, while investigations of the molecular factors underlying right hemisphere-dominant phenotypes are less prominent. In the classical line bisection task, healthy subjects typically show a leftward attentional bias due to a relative dominance of the right hemisphere for visuospatial attention. Based on findings of variations in dopamine-related genes affecting performance in the line bisection task, we first tested whether DNA methylation in non-neuronal tissue in the promoter regions of DBH, SLC6A3, and DRD2 are associated with line bisection deviation. We replicated the typical behavioral pattern and found an effect of DNA methylation in the DBH promoter region on line bisection deviation in right-aligned trials. A second exploratory analysis indicated that an overall DNA methylation profile of genes involved in dopamine function predicts line bisection performance in right-aligned trials. Genetic variation in dopamine-related genes has been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental trait associated with rightward attentional bias. Overall, our findings point towards epigenetic markers for functional hemispheric asymmetries in non-neuronal tissue not only for left hemisphere-dominant, but also for right hemisphere-dominant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Schmitz
- Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Robert Kumsta
- Genetic Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dirk Moser
- Genetic Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Onur Güntürkün
- Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
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Voelker P, Piscopo D, Weible AP, Lynch G, Rothbart MK, Posner MI, Niell CM. White matter and reaction time: Reply to commentaries. Cogn Neurosci 2017; 8:137-140. [PMID: 27400280 PMCID: PMC5606142 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2016.1210592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We appreciate the many comments we received on our discussion paper and believe that they reflect a recognition of the importance of this topic worldwide. We point out in this reply that there appears to be a confusion between the role of oscillations in creating white matter and other functions of oscillations in communicating between neural areas during task performance or at rest. We also discuss some mechanisms other than the enhancement of white matter that must influence reaction time. We recognize the limited understanding we have of transfer and outline some future directions designed to improve our understanding of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Voelker
- a Department of Psychology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Denise Piscopo
- b Institute of Neuroscience , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Aldis P Weible
- b Institute of Neuroscience , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Gary Lynch
- c Psychiatry & Human Behavior , University of California , Irvine , CA , USA
| | - Mary K Rothbart
- a Department of Psychology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Michael I Posner
- a Department of Psychology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
- b Institute of Neuroscience , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
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Abstract
Voelker et al. (this issue) discuss the idea of linking white matter (WM) plasticity to improved reaction time (RT) during training. While compelling, this argument has important confounds and should be taken with cautions. RT is constrained not only by the speed of signal transmission in WM, but also by the properties of synaptic and neural processing in cortical gray matter. It is still unclear to what extent RT variability could be explained by WM plasticity and cortical plasticity. Future studies should examine both WM plasticity and cortical plasticity in relation to RT changes, to fully understand the brain mechanisms underlying RT improvement during training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenbing Kuang
- a State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science , Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , China
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Voelker P, Piscopo D, Weible AP, Lynch G, Rothbart MK, Posner MI, Niell CM. How changes in white matter might underlie improved reaction time due to practice. Cogn Neurosci 2016; 8:112-118. [PMID: 27064751 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2016.1173664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Why does training on a task reduce the reaction time for performing it? New research points to changes in white matter pathways as one likely mechanism. These pathways connect remote brain areas involved in performing the task. Genetic variations may be involved in individual differences in the extent of this improvement. If white matter change is involved in improved reaction time with training, it may point the way toward understanding where and how generalization occurs. We examine the hypothesis that brain pathways shared by different tasks may result in improved performance of cognitive tasks remote from the training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Voelker
- a Department of Psychology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Denise Piscopo
- b Department of Biology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Aldis P Weible
- b Department of Biology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA.,c Institute of Neuroscience , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Gary Lynch
- d Department of Neurobiology and Behavior UC Irvine , Irvine , CA , USA
| | - Mary K Rothbart
- a Department of Psychology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Michael I Posner
- a Department of Psychology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA.,c Institute of Neuroscience , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
| | - Cristopher M Niell
- b Department of Biology , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA.,c Institute of Neuroscience , University of Oregon , Eugene , OR , USA
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