Allelic variation of serotonin transporter function modulates the brain electrical response for error processing.
A functional length variation in the transcriptional control region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) influences brain function, personality traits, and susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. Here we measured prefrontal brain function by means of event-related potentials during an error processing paradigm. Physiologically, occurrence of an error elicits two specific electrical responses in the prefrontal cortex, the early error related negativity (Ne/ERN) and the later occurring error positivity (Pe), reflecting different components of error processing. Healthy subjects with one or two copies of the low-activity 5-HTTLPR short variant showed significantly higher amplitudes of the Ne/ERN and a trend to higher amplitudes of the Pe as compared to age- and gender-matched individuals homozygous for the long allele. Performance measures and latencies of these ERP-components did not differ between groups. These results indicate that the 5-HTTLPR short variant is associated with enhanced responsiveness of the brain and further supports the notion that prefrontal brain function is influenced by allelic variation in serotonin transporter function.
Fallgatter
Andreas J
AJ
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Germany. Fallgatter_A@Klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
Herrmann
Martin J
MJ
Roemmler
Josefine
J
Ehlis
Ann-Christine
AC
Wagener
Annika
A
Heidrich
Anke
A
Ortega
Gabriele
G
Zeng
Yong
Y
Lesch
Klaus-Peter
KP
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011932:Reading; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins