Premium
Significant association between the C(−1019)G functional polymorphism of the HTR 1A gene and impulsivity
Author(s) -
Benko Anita,
Lazary Judit,
Molnar Eszter,
Gonda Xenia,
Tothfalusi Laszlo,
Pap Dorottya,
Mirnics Zsuzsanna,
Kurimay Tamas,
Chase Diana,
Juhasz Gabriella,
Anderson Ian M.,
Deakin John F.W.,
Bagdy Gyorgy
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part b: neuropsychiatric genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.393
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1552-485X
pISSN - 1552-4841
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.b.31025
Subject(s) - impulsivity , barratt impulsiveness scale , psychology , polymorphism (computer science) , medicine , population , allele , genotype , clinical psychology , endocrinology , biology , genetics , gene , environmental health
Serotonin‐1A (5‐HT 1A ) receptors are known to play a role in impulsivity‐related behavior. The C(−1019)G functional polymorphism (rs6295) has been suggested to regulate the 5‐HT 1A receptor gene (HTR 1A ) expression in presynaptic raphe neurons, namely, increased receptor concentration and reduced neuronal firing could be associated with the G allele. Previous studies indicate that this polymorphism is associated with aggression, suicide, and several psychiatric disorders, yet its association with impulsivity has rarely been investigated. We studied the relationship between impulsivity and the C(−1019)G polymorphism of the HTR 1A in a population sample of 725 volunteers using the Impulsiveness subscale (IVE‐I) of the Eysenck Impulsiveness, Venturesomeness, and Empathy scale and also the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS‐11). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance with age and gender as covariates and Tukey's HSD post‐hoc test. Post‐hoc analysis revealed that the study had 0.958 power to detect 0.15 effect size. Significant differences between the C(−1019)G genotype groups (GG vs. GC vs. CC) were found. Subjects carrying GG genotype showed significantly higher impulsiveness scores compared to GC or CC carriers for the IVE‐I scale ( P = 0.014), for the Motor ( P = 0.021), Cognitive Impulsiveness ( P = 0.002), and for the BIS total score ( P = 0.008) but not for the Nonplanning Impulsiveness ( P = 0.520) subscale of the BIS‐11. Our results suggest the involvement of the HTR 1A in the continuum phenotype of impulsivity. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.