title: Association study of dopamine receptor D2 TaqI A polymorphism and reward-related personality traits in healthy Korean young females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic factors make a significant contribution to the determination of human personality traits. We aimed to investigate the possible relationship between dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) TaqI A polymorphism and the reward-related personality traits as measured by the Carver and White Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Approach System (BIS/BAS) scales and Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 267 female healthy Korean unrelated university students (age: 23.12 +/- 3.22 years) and they filled out the BIS/BAS scales and the TCI. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood and genotyped with the fluorescence polarization detection method. The effect of the independent variables (DRD2 genotypes) on the dependent variables were analyzed by multivariate and subsequent univariate ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant associations between the A1 allele of the DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism and a high BAS-RR score (reward responsiveness). No significant association was observed between DRD2 polymorphisms and other factors of the BIS/BAS scales and TCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest the notion that DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism contributes to high reward sensitivity, which measures anticipation and positive response towards reward.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: So Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: Youl-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seung-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011581:Psychological Tests; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012201:Reward
chemical_list: D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2