title: The association between the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters and personality traits.
abstract: Evidence from previous studies has reported that complex traits, including psychiatric disorders, are moderately to highly heritable. Moreover, it has also been shown that specific personality traits may increase the risk to develop mental illnesses. Therefore the focus of the research shifted towards the identification of the biological mechanisms underpinning these traits by exploring the effects of a constellation of genetic polymorphisms in healthy subjects. Indeed, studying the effect of genetic variants in normal personality provides a unique means for identifying candidate genes which may increase the risk for psychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss the impact of two of the most frequently studied genetic polymorphisms on personality in healthy subjects, the 5-HTT polymorphism of the serotonin transporter and the DRD2/DRD4 polymorphisms of the D2/D4 dopamine's receptors. The main aims are: (a) to highlight that the study of candidate genes provides a fruitful ground for the identification of the biological underpinnings of personality without, though, reaching a general consensus about the strength of this relationship; and (b) to outline that the research in personality genetics should be expanded to provide a clearer picture of the heritability of personality traits.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS 'E. Medea' Scientific Institute,Bosisio Parini,Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delvecchio
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine,Inter University Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences,University of Verona,Verona,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health,Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico,University of Milan,Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health,Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico,University of Milan,Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brambilla
mesh_terms: D004298:Dopamine; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Attitudes; biological markers; neurophysiology; risk factors