title: Neuropsychopharmacology and neurogenetic aspects of executive functioning: should reward gene polymorphisms constitute a diagnostic tool to identify individuals at risk for impaired judgment?
abstract: Executive functions are processes that act in harmony to control behaviors necessary for maintaining focus and achieving outcomes. Executive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders is attributed to structural or functional pathology of brain networks involving prefrontal cortex (PFC) and its connections with other brain regions. The PFC receives innervations from different neurons associated with a number of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine (DA). Here we review findings on the contribution of PFC DA to higher-order cognitive and emotional behaviors. We suggest that examination of multifactorial interactions of an individual's genetic history, along with environmental risk factors, can assist in the characterization of executive functioning for that individual. Based upon the results of genetic studies, we also propose genetic mapping as a probable diagnostic tool serving as a therapeutic adjunct for augmenting executive functioning capabilities. We conclude that preservation of the neurological underpinnings of executive functions requires the integrity of complex neural systems including the influence of specific genes and associated polymorphisms to provide adequate neurotransmission.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neuroscience and Population Genetics, The Nazareth English Hospital (EMME), 16100 Nazareth, Israel. bowirrat@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Abdalla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowirrat
authors.forename: Thomas J H
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oscar-Berman
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madigan
authors.forename: Amanda Lh
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Braverman
authors.forename: Mallory
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerner
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: B William
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Downs
authors.forename: Roger L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Waite
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.forename: Zaher
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Armaly
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward