Genetics and neuroimaging of attention and hypnotizability may elucidate placebo.
Attention binds psychology to the techniques of neuroscience and exemplifies the links between brain and behavior. Associated with attentional networks, at least 3 brain modules govern control processes by drawing on disparate functional neuroanatomy, neuromodulators, and psychological substrates. Guided by data-driven brain theories, researchers have related specific genetic polymorphisms to well-defined phenotypes, including those associated with different attentional efficiencies and hypnosis. Because attention can modulate both cognitive and affective processes, genetic assays together with neuroimaging data have begun to elucidate individual differences. Findings from genetic assays of both attention and hypnotizability pave the way to answering questions such as how high hypnotizable individuals may differ from less-hypnotizable persons. These exploratory findings may extend to the identification of placebo responders.
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA. amir.raz@mcgill.ca
Amir
A
Raz
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*
D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4