Work

Association of the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism with biased attention for negative word stimuli

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Biased attention for emotional stimuli reflects vulnerability or resilience to emotional disorders. The current study examines whether the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is associated with attentional biases for negative word stimuli. METHODS: Unmedicated, young adults with low current depression and anxiety symptoms (N=106) were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR, including the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs25531 in the long allele of the 5-HTTLPR. Participants then completed a standard dot-probe task that measured attentional bias toward anxiety, dysphoric, and self-esteem words. RESULTS: The L(A)L(A) allele group demonstrated an attentional bias away from negative word stimuli. This attentional bias was absent among the S/L(G) carriers. CONCLUSIONS: These findings replicate previous work and suggest that 5-HTTLPR L(A) homozygotes possess a protective attentional bias that may decrease susceptibility to depression and anxiety.

Source: Depression and Anxiety

DOI: 10.1002/da.20708

Authors: Tracy Kwang, Tony T. Wells, John E. McGeary, William B. Swann, Christopher G. Beevers

Institutions: The University of Texas at Austin, Brown University, Providence VA Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Research Resources