Involvement of a polymorphism in the 5-HT2A receptor gene in impulsive behavior.
OBJECTIVE
Impulsive behavior has been suggested to occur due to a dysfunction of serotonergic 5-HT neurotransmission. After evaluation by a self-reporting measure, a polymorphism in the promoter of the 5-HT2A receptor gene has been proposed to underlie the impulsive behavior; however, this hypothesis is not convincing. In this study, we examined whether this 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphism is involved in impulsive aggression by evaluating a behavioral task (go/no-go task) in normal volunteers.


METHODS
The polymorphism of the 5-HT2A receptor gene promoter was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction using lymphocytes from 71 volunteers. Impulsivity was defined as the number of commission errors (responding when one should not) made during a go/no-go task (a larger number of commission errors indicates greater difficulty in inhibiting the behavior).


RESULTS
The subjects in the group with the A-1438A allele of the 5-HT2A receptor gene (A-1438A group) made more commission errors under the punishment-reward condition in a go/no-go task than those in the G-1438G group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest the possible involvement of the A-1438A polymorphism of the 5-HT2A receptor gene in impulsive behavior; this was evaluated using a behavioral task measure that can directly reveal the traits of human impulsive behavior.
Nomura
Michio
M
Department of Psychology, Tokai Women's University, Nakakirino-cho, Kakamigahara, Gifu 504-8511, Japan. michan900@yahoo.co.jp
Kusumi
Ichiro
I
Kaneko
Masayuki
M
Masui
Takuya
T
Daiguji
Makoto
M
Ueno
Takeji
T
Koyama
Tsukasa
T
Nomura
Yasuyuki
Y
D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A