title: Evidence of MAOA genotype involvement in spatial ability in males.
abstract: Although the monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) gene has been linked to spatial learning and memory in animal models, convincing evidence in humans is lacking. Performance on an ecologically-valid, virtual computer-based equivalent of the Morris Water Maze task was compared between 28 healthy males with the low MAOA transcriptional activity and 41 healthy age- and IQ-matched males with the high MAOA transcriptional activity. The results revealed consistently better performance (reduced heading error, shorter path length, and reduced failed trials) for the high MAOA activity individuals relative to the low activity individuals. By comparison, groups did not differ on pre-task variables or strategic measures such as first-move latency. The results provide novel evidence of MAOA gene involvement in human spatial navigation using a virtual analogue of the Morris Water Maze task.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Section on Developmental and Affective Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: Sven.Mueller@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Sven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Swinburne University, Melbourne, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Cornwell
authors.affiliation: Section Neurobiology of Fear & Anxiety, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grillon
authors.affiliation: Section on Developmental and Affective Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macintyre
authors.affiliation: Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorodetsky
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.affiliation: Section on Developmental and Affective Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pine
authors.affiliation: Section on Developmental and Affective Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D065854:Spatial Navigation / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; C579458:monoamine oxidase A, human
keywords: Gene; Learning; Monoamine-oxidase; Spatial memory; Spatial navigation; Virtual maze