Affect-modulated startle reflex and dopamine D4 receptor gene variation

作者：Pauli Paul^*; Conzelmann Annette; Mucha Ronald F; Weyers Peter; Baehne Christina G; Fallgatter Andreas J; Jacob Christian P; Lesch Klaus Peter

来源：Psychophysiology, 2010, 47(1): 25-33.

DOI：10.1111/j.1469-8986.2009.00923.x

• Startle response
• Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4)
• Emotion
• Affective pictures

The affect-modulated acoustic startle response (ASR) might be a promising indicator for emotional reactivity as an endophenotype (an intermediate level between genetics and phenotypes), which we expected to be associated with the DRD4 polymorphism. Therefore, the affect-modulated ASR was examined in 114 healthy Volunteers, 74 lacking the DRD4 7R allele (7R-absent group) and 41 with at least one DRD4 7R allele (7R group). Results revealed the well-known affect-modulated ASR in tile 7R-absent group. The 7R group, however, was characterized by a blunted affect-modulated ASR, especially by a reduced startle potentiation toward unpleasant pictures. Associations between the exploratory assessed 5-HTT, COMT, and DAT polymorphisms and affect-modulated ASR were not found. Results speak for the importance of the DRD4 polymorphism in modulating emotional responses and also for tile usefulness of the affect-modulated ASR as an endophenotype.

• 出版日期2010-1