title: Serotonin promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) predicts biased attention for emotion stimuli: Preliminary evidence of moderation by the social environment.
abstract: A number of studies have found an association between attentional bias for negative stimuli and variation in the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR). The current project examined whether a positive social environment mitigates this association. More specifically, we examined the relationship between attentional bias on the dot-probe task, variation in the 5-HTTLPR and current social support among a community sample of adults (N=216). Consistent with prior research, the S/LGhomozygotes were more likely than the other genotype groups to have a negative attention bias. However, social support moderated the association between 5-HTTLPR variation and attentional bias. The S/LGhomozygote group was particularly likely to exhibit greater attentional bias towards negative stimuli at low levels of social support. However, as social support improved, negative attention bias decreased. Findings suggest that supportive environments may attenuate genetic associations with negative attention bias.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin; Institute for Mental Health Research.
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.affiliation: Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rhode Island Hospital, & Brown University.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGeary
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin; Institute for Mental Health Research.
authors.forename: W Todd
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Maddox
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin; Institute for Mental Health Research.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Beevers
keywords: Attention; Cognitive Processes; Depression; Environmental Effects; Genetics