title: Variation in the serotonin transporter gene modulates selective attention to threat.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany. Roman.Osinsky@psychol.uni-giessen.de
authors: Roman
authors: R
authors: Osinsky
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Reuter
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Küpper
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Schmitz
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Kozyra
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Alexander
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Hennig
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins