title: 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is linked to neural mechanisms of selective attention in preschoolers from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds.
abstract: While a growing body of research has identified experiential factors associated with differences in selective attention, relatively little is known about the contribution of genetic factors to the skill of sustained selective attention, especially in early childhood. Here, we assessed the association between the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotypes and the neural mechanisms of selective attention in young children from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a dichotic listening task from 121 children (76 females, aged 40-67 months), who were also genotyped for the short and long allele of 5-HTTLPR. The effect of selective attention was measured as the difference in ERP mean amplitudes elicited by identical probe stimuli embedded in stories when they were attended versus unattended. Compared to children homozygous for the long allele, children who carried at least one copy of the short allele showed larger effects of selective attention on neural processing. These findings link the short allele of the 5-HTTLPR to enhanced neural mechanisms of selective attention and lay the groundwork for future studies of gene-by-environment interactions in the context of key cognitive skills.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Greensboro, NC, 27412, United States. Electronic address: e_isbell@uncg.edu.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isbell
authors.affiliation: Willamette University, Department of Psychology, 900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301, United States.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, 1026 Red Cedar Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824, United States.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hampton Wray
authors.affiliation: University of Oregon, Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, United States.
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: University of Oregon, Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, United States.
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Neville
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000483:Alleles; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: 5-HTTLPR; ERP; Preschoolers; Selective attention