NPY2-receptor variation modulates iconic memory processes.
Sensory memory systems are modality-specific buffers that comprise information about external stimuli, which represent the earliest stage of information processing. While these systems have been the subject of cognitive neuroscience research for decades, little is known about the neurobiological basis of sensory memory. However, accumulating evidence suggests that the glutamatergic system and systems influencing glutamatergic neural transmission are important. In the current study we examine if functional promoter variations in neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptor gene NPY2R affect iconic memory processes using a partial report paradigm. We found that iconic memory decayed much faster in individuals carrying the rare promoter NPY2R G allele which is associated with increased expression of the Y2 receptor. Possibly this effect is due to altered presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release, known to be modulated by Y2 receptors. Altogether, our results provide evidence that the functionally relevant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the NPY2R promoter gene affect circumscribed processes of early sensory processing, i.e. only the stability of information in sensory memory buffers. This leads us to suggest that especially the stability of information in sensory memory buffers depends on glutamatergic neural transmission and factors modulating glutamatergic turnover.
Department of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany.
Larissa
L
Arning
Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstraße 42, D-01309 Dresden, Germany.
Ann-Kathrin
AK
Stock
Department of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany.
Eugen
E
Kloster
Department of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany.
Jörg T
JT
Epplen
Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstraße 42, D-01309 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: christian.beste@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
Christian
C
Beste
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; C095889:neuropeptide Y2 receptor
Genetics; NPY; NPY2R; Partial report paradigm; Sensory memory