Compulsive behavior and eye blink in Prader-Willi syndrome: neurochemical implications.
Compulsive behavior in Prader-Willi syndrome is well-documented, though the neurochemical basis of these behaviors remains unknown. We studied a group of 16 people with Prader-Willi syndrome and a comparison group of 19 people with intellectual disability. Using eye-blink rate as an indirect measure of central nervous system dopamine, we found a higher eye-blink rate in the Prader-Willi syndrome group and a relationship between compulsive behavior and eye-blink rate across both groups. Our findings indicate a relationship between compulsions and an indirect measure of dopamine in people with intellectual disability. Our findings may provide evidence for a gene-brain-behavior link between dopamine levels and GABAergic mechanisms in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Holsen
Laura
L
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160, USA. lholsen@kumc.edu
Thompson
Travis
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D004298:Dopamine