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Association of serotonin transporter promoter regulatory region polymorphism and cerebral activity to visual presentation of food
Author(s) -
Kaurijoki Salla,
Kuikka Jyrki T.,
Niskanen Eini,
Carlson Synnöve,
Pietiläinen Kirsi H.,
Pesonen Ullamari,
Kaprio Jaakko M.,
Rissanen Aila,
Tiihonen Jari,
Karhunen Leila
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-097x.2008.00804.x
Subject(s) - serotonin transporter , functional magnetic resonance imaging , allele , serotonin , medicine , neuroscience , genotype , posterior cingulate , polymorphism (computer science) , neurotransmitter , genetics , central nervous system , gene , biology , receptor
Summary Recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have revealed links between genetic polymorphisms and cognitive and behavioural processes. Serotonin is a classical neurotransmitter of central nervous system, and it is connected to the control of appetite and satiety. In this study, the relationship between the functional variation in the serotonin transporter gene and the activity in the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), a brain area activated by visual food stimuli was explored. Thirty subjects underwent serial fMRI studies and provided DNA for genetic analyses. Subjects homozygous for the long allele exhibited greater left PCC activity in the comparison food > non‐food compared with individuals heterozygous or homozygous for the short allele. The association between genotype and activation was linear, the subjects with two copies of the long allele variant having the strongest activation. These results demonstrate the possible genetically driven variation in the response of the left PCC to visual presentation of food in humans.