title: Individual response speed is modulated by variants of the gene encoding the alpha 4 sub-unit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRNA4).
abstract: Acetylcholine (ACh) is a known modulator of several domains of cognition, among them attention, memory and learning. The neurotransmitter also influences the speed of information processing, particularly the detection of targets and the selection of suitable responses. We examined the effect of the rs1044396 (C/T) polymorphism of the gene encoding the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α4-subunit (CHRNA4) on response speed and selective visual attention. To this end, we administered a Stroop task, a Negative priming task and an exogenous Posner-Cuing task to healthy participants (n = 157). We found that the CHRNA4 rs1044396 polymorphism modulated the average reaction times (RTs) across all three tasks. Dependent on the C allele dosage, the RTs linearly increased. Homozygous T allele carriers were always fastest, while homozygous C allele carriers were always slowest. We did not observe effects of this polymorphism on selective attention. In sum, we conclude that naturally occurring variations within the cholinergic system influence an important factor of information processing. This effect might possibly be produced by the neuromodulator system rather than the deterministic system of cortical ACh.
authors: Cognitive Psychology, University of Trier. Electronic address: schneikk@uni-trier.de.
authors: Katja Kerstin
authors: KK
authors: Schneider
authors: Neurobehavioral Genetics, University of Trier.
authors: Andrea B
authors: AB
authors: Schote
authors: Neurobehavioral Genetics, University of Trier.
authors: Jobst
authors: J
authors: Meyer
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Bonn; Center for Economics and Neuroscience, University of Bonn.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Markett
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Bonn; Center for Economics and Neuroscience, University of Bonn.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Reuter
authors: Cognitive Psychology, University of Trier.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Frings
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics*; D060865:Repetition Priming; D057190:Stroop Test; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic
keywords: Acetylcholine; CHRNA4 rs1044396; Information processing; Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; Response speed; Selective visual attention