Abstract
The prediction error model is a widely used paradigm that is conceptually based on neuronal dopamine function. However, whether dopamine receptor gene alleles contribute to human neuroimaging prediction error results is uncertain. Recent research implicated the dopamine D2 receptor in behavior response during a prediction error paradigm and we expected that polymorphisms of that receptor would contribute to prediction error brain response. In this study, healthy female participants in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle underwent a taste prediction error paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Participants were also genotyped for dopamine receptor polymorphisms. Our data suggest that the dopamine D2 receptor −141C Ins/Del and Taq1A polymorphisms together with body mass index selectively explain putamen prediction error response. This was true using a region of interest analysis as well as for a whole-brain analysis (FWE corrected). Polymorphisms for dopamine D1 or D4 receptors, dopamine transporter, or COMT did not significantly contribute to prediction error activation. The prediction error model is a computational reward-learning paradigm that is important in psychiatric research and has been associated with dopamine. The results from this study indicate that dopamine D2 receptor polymorphisms together with body mass index are important determinants to include in research that tests prediction error response of the brain. Psychiatric disorders are frequently associated with elevated or reduced body weight. Adding BMI to genetic information in brain-imaging studies that use reward and the prediction error paradigm may be important to increase validity and reliability of results.
Highlights
Brain reward response has been associated with dopamine (DA) function[1]
The combination of DA-D2 receptor (DA-D2R) Taq1A, −141C Ins/Del and body mass index (BMI) was highly predictive of bilateral putamen prediction error (PE) response and survived multiple comparison correction (Bonferroni), but not for other regions (Table 1, Fig. 1)
The DA-D2R 141 Ins/Ins and Taq1A A2/A2 alleles and higher BMI were associated with lower PE response
Summary
Brain reward response has been associated with dopamine (DA) function[1]. identifying how DA genotype contributes to this brain activation has been challenging[2]. Previous studies used a “multilocus” composite DA genotype approach, where an additive score was calculated based on a presumed DA signal-enhancing vs -reducing alleles[2,3]. This strategy requires knowledge of the biochemical significance of each allele on DA. Those referenced previous studies had applied brainimaging tasks for receipt or anticipated receipt of taste or monetary reward stimuli, or a game that involved guessing numbers to win money[2,3]. Midbrain dopaminergic neurons exhibit a phasic burst when receiving unexpected reward (“positive prediction error”), and will shift the signal to the onset of a
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