title: TPH2 gene variation and conflict processing in a cognitive and an emotional Stroop task.
abstract: Evidence suggests that a promoter polymorphism of the tryptophan-hydroxylase 2 gene (TPH2 -703 G/T) is associated with executive control functions. The current study aimed to clarify whether this relation is restricted to a purely cognitive domain or whether such an effect can also be observed in the processing of emotional material. In a sample of 89 student subjects, a 'cognitive' and an 'emotional' Stroop paradigm were applied to measure processing of cognitive and affective conflicts. Our results suggest an impact of the TPH2 -703 G/T polymorphism on executive control in both, the cognitive as well as the emotional task. In detail, homozygous carriers of the T allele showed decelerated responses in low-conflict conditions, pointing to a rather abnormal functioning of higher-order control mechanisms. Thus, the present investigation is consistent with previous behavioural studies and adds further evidence for the impact of serotonin at the interface of cognition and emotion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10 F, 35394 Giessen, Germany. Roman.Osinsky@psychol.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osinsky
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuepper
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kozyra
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hennig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C494784:TPH2 protein, human; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase