Variation in the serotonin transporter gene modulates selective attention to threat.
The 5-HTTLPR is an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene. Prior research has revealed associations between the short-allele variant of this polymorphism, enhanced self-reported negative emotionality, and hypersensitivity of fear relevant neural circuits. In a sample of 50 healthy women we examined the role of 5-HTTLPR for cognitive-affective processing of phylogenetical fear-relevant stimuli (spiders) in a dot probe task. In contrast to homozygote long-allele carriers (ll), participants carrying at least 1 short allele (ss and sl) selectively shifted attention toward pictures of spiders, when these were presented for a duration of 2,000 ms. These results argue for an involvement of 5-HTTLPR in cognitive processing of threatening stimuli and thus, underpin its general role for individual differences in negative affect.
Osinsky
Roman
R
Department of Psychology, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany. Roman.Osinsky@psychol.uni-giessen.de
Reuter
Martin
M
Küpper
Yvonne
Y
Schmitz
Anja
A
Kozyra
Eva
E
Alexander
Nina
N
Hennig
Jürgen
J
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000483:Alleles; D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins