Variations in the serotonin-transporter gene are associated with attention bias patterns to positive and negative emotion faces.
Both attention biases to threat and a serotonin-transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) have been linked to heightened neural activation to threat and the emergence of anxiety. The short allele of 5-HTTLPR may act via its effect on neurotransmitter availability, while attention biases shape broad patterns of cognitive processing. We examined individual differences in attention bias to emotion faces as a function of 5-HTTLPR genotype. Adolescents (N=117) were classified for presumed SLC6A4 expression based on 5-HTTLPR-low (SS, SL(G), or L(G)L(G)), intermediate (SL(A) or L(A)L(G)), or high (L(A)L(A)). Participants completed the dot-probe task, measuring attention biases toward or away from angry and happy faces. Biases for angry faces increased with the genotype-predicted neurotransmission levels (low>intermediate>high). The reverse pattern was evident for happy faces. The data indicate a linear relation between 5-HTTLPR allelic status and attention biases to emotion, demonstrating a genetic mechanism for biased attention using ecologically valid stimuli that target socioemotional adaptation.
Pérez-Edgar
Koraly
K
Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States. kperezed@gmu.edu
Bar-Haim
Yair
Y
McDermott
Jennifer Martin
JM
Gorodetsky
Elena
E
Hodgkinson
Colin A
CA
Goldman
David
D
Ernst
Monique
M
Pine
Daniel S
DS
Fox
Nathan A
NA
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D015982:Bias; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins