Computational dissection of human episodic memory reveals mental process-specific genetic profiles.
Episodic memory performance is the result of distinct mental processes, such as learning, memory maintenance, and emotional modulation of memory strength. Such processes can be effectively dissociated using computational models. Here we performed gene set enrichment analyses of model parameters estimated from the episodic memory performance of 1,765 healthy young adults. We report robust and replicated associations of the amine compound SLC (solute-carrier) transporters gene set with the learning rate, of the collagen formation and transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity gene sets with the modulation of memory strength by negative emotional arousal, and of the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) interactions gene set with the repetition-based memory improvement. Furthermore, in a large functional MRI sample of 795 subjects we found that the association between L1CAM interactions and memory maintenance revealed large clusters of differences in brain activity in frontal cortical areas. Our findings provide converging evidence that distinct genetic profiles underlie specific mental processes of human episodic memory. They also provide empirical support to previous theoretical and neurobiological studies linking specific neuromodulators to the learning rate and linking neural cell adhesion molecules to memory maintenance. Furthermore, our study suggests additional memory-related genetic pathways, which may contribute to a better understanding of the neurobiology of human memory.
Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland; eurogedi@hotmail.com andreas.papas@unibas.ch dominique.dequervain@unibas.ch.
Gediminas
G
Luksys
Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland;
Matthias
M
Fastenrath
Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland;
David
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5028-5807
D
Coynel
Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland;
Virginie
V
Freytag
Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland;
Leo
L
Gschwind
Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland;
Angela
A
Heck
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cologne, D-50937, Cologne, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, D-53175, Bonn, Germany;
Frank
F
Jessen
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, D-53175, Bonn, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, D-53105, Bonn, Germany;
Wolfgang
W
Maier
Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland; University Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, CH-4012, Basel, Switzerland;
Annette
A
Milnik
Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany;
Steffi G
SG
Riedel-Heller
Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of Primary Medical Care, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany;
Martin
M
Scherer
Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland;
Klara
K
Spalek
Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland; University Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, CH-4012, Basel, Switzerland;
Christian
C
Vogler
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, D-53175, Bonn, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, D-53105, Bonn, Germany;
Michael
M
Wagner
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, D-53175, Bonn, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, D-53105, Bonn, Germany;
Steffen
S
Wolfsgruber
Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland; University Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, CH-4012, Basel, Switzerland; Life Sciences Training Facility, Biozentrum, University of Basel, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland; Transfaculty Research Platform, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland eurogedi@hotmail.com andreas.papas@unibas.ch dominique.dequervain@unibas.ch.
Andreas
A
Papassotiropoulos
Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland; University Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, CH-4012, Basel, Switzerland; Transfaculty Research Platform, University of Basel, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland eurogedi@hotmail.com andreas.papas@unibas.ch dominique.dequervain@unibas.ch.
Dominique J-F
DJ
de Quervain
D000328:Adult; D019295:Computational Biology; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008606:Mental Processes; D055815:Young Adult
computational model; frontal lobe; functional neuroimaging; gene set enrichment analysis; learning and memory