Differential effects of BDNF val(66)met in repetitive associative learning paradigms.
In healthy young subjects, the brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) val(66)met polymorphism negatively affects behavioural outcome in short-term motor cortex or hippocampus-based learning paradigms. In repetitive training paradigms over several days this effect can be overcome, in tests involving other brain areas even positive effects were found. To further specify the role of this polymorphism in cognitive processes, we used an associative vocabulary learning paradigm over four consecutive days and tested 38 young healthy subjects and 29 healthy elderly subjects. As a control paradigm, we designed a nonverbal haptic Braille letter-learning paradigm based on the same principles. Behavioural outcome was then associated with the BDNF-genotype. In the vocabulary learning task, met carrier (met/val and met/met) benefitted more from the repetitive training than val/val subjects. This was paralleled by a higher reduction of delayed answers during the course of the study, an effect that was also present in the haptic paradigm. However, in a group of healthy elderly subjects, no similar tendency was found. We conclude that the BDNF val(66)met polymorphism alters highly circumscribed answer behaviours in young healthy subjects. This might partly explain the high variability of previously published results.
Brain Imaging and Neurostimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Nils
N
Freundlieb
Brain Imaging and Neurostimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Winifried
W
Backhaus
Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany; Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
Norbert
N
Brüggemann
Brain Imaging and Neurostimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Christian
C
Gerloff
Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
Christine
C
Klein
Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Hans O
HO
Pinnschmidt
Brain Imaging and Neurostimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: f.hummel@uke.de.
Friedhelm C
FC
Hummel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014633:Valine; D014825:Vocabulary; D055815:Young Adult
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine
Associative vocabulary learning; BDNF polymorphism; Braille learning; Elderly; Gene–behaviour interaction