A genome-wide survey of human short-term memory.
Recent advances in the development of high-throughput genotyping platforms allow for the unbiased identification of genes and genomic sequences related to heritable traits. In this study, we analyzed human short-term memory, which refers to the ability to remember information over a brief period of time and which has been found disturbed in many neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and depression. We performed a genome-wide survey at 909 622 polymorphic loci and report six genetic variations significantly associated with human short-term memory performance after genome-wide correction for multiple comparisons. A polymorphism within SCN1A (encoding the α subunit of the type I voltage-gated sodium channel) was replicated in three independent populations of 1699 individuals. Functional magnetic resonance imaging during an n-back working memory task detected SCN1A allele-dependent activation differences in brain regions typically involved in working memory processes. These results suggest an important role for SCN1A in human short-term memory.
Papassotiropoulos
A
A
Division of Molecular Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. andreas.papas@unibas.ch or
Henke
K
K
Stefanova
E
E
Aerni
A
A
Müller
A
A
Demougin
P
P
Vogler
C
C
Sigmund
J C
JC
Gschwind
L
L
Huynh
K-D
KD
Coluccia
D
D
Mondadori
C R
CR
Hänggi
J
J
Buchmann
A
A
Kostic
V
V
Novakovic
I
I
van den Bussche
H
H
Kaduszkiewicz
H
H
Weyerer
S
S
Bickel
H
H
Riedel-Heller
S
S
Pentzek
M
M
Wiese
B
B
Dichgans
M
M
Wagner
M
M
Jessen
F
F
Maier
W
W
de Quervain
D J-F
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D003625:Data Collection; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007391:International Cooperation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D062550:NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
D062550:NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C568242:SCN1A protein, human; D015222:Sodium Channels; D010100:Oxygen