title: Serotonin receptor gene (HTR2A) T102C polymorphism modulates individuals' perspective taking ability and autistic-like traits.
abstract: Previous studies have indicated that empathic traits, such as perspective taking, are associated with the levels of serotonin in the brain and with autism spectrum conditions. Inspired by the finding that the serotonin receptor 2A gene (HTR2A) modulates the availability of serotonin, this study investigated to what extent HTR2A modulates individuals' perspective taking ability and autistic-like traits. To examine the associations of the functional HTR2A polymorphism T102C (rs6313) with individuals' perspective taking abilities and autistic-like traits, we differentiated individuals according to this polymorphism and measured empathic and autistic-like traits with Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scale in 523 Chinese people. The results indicated that this polymorphism was significantly associated with the scores on Perspective Taking and Personal Distress subscales of IRI, and Communication subscale of AQ. Individuals with a greater number of the C alleles were less likely to spontaneously adopt the point of view of others, more likely to be anxious when observing the pain endured by others, and more likely to have communication problems. Moreover, the genotype effect on communication problems was mediated by individuals' perspective taking ability. These findings provide evidence that the HTR2A T102C polymorphism is a predictor of individual differences in empathic and autistic-like traits and highlight the role of the gene in the connection between perspective taking and autistic-like traits.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University Xi'an, China ; Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Department of Psychology, Peking University Beijing, China ; Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Henan University of Science and Technology Luoyang, China.
authors.forename: Pingyuan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Department of Psychology, Peking University Beijing, China ; China Center for Special Economic Zone Research, Shenzhen University Shenzhen, China ; Research Centre for Brain Function and Psychological Science, Shenzhen University Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Jinting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Department of Psychology, Peking University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Blue
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Henan University of Science and Technology Luoyang, China.
authors.forename: She
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Department of Psychology, Peking University Beijing, China ; Key Laboratory of Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University Beijing, China ; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: HTR2A; autistic-like traits; empathy; perspective taking; serotonin