The impact of the DRD4 exon III polymorphism on inhibitory functions – Evidence from behavioral and EEG-studies

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event The impact of the DRD4 exon III polymorphism on inhibitory functions – Evidence from behavioral and EEG-studies U. Kramer1*, N. Rojo2, L. Schöls3, R. Schüle3, A. Rodriguez-Fornells2, 4 and T.F Münte1 1 Institute for Psychology II, Otto-von-Guericke University , Germany 2 Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain 3 Hertie-Institut für Klinische Hirnforschung, Universität Tübingen, Germany 4 Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Spain Converging evidence exists for an association between the 7 repeat allele of the DRD4 exon III polymorphism and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The data regarding the neural basis of this association and its possible role for the neuropsychological deficits of ADHD children remains inconclusive however. We screened a sample of 656 subjects for polymorphisms of different dopaminergic genes including DRD4 exon III. The participants underwent a neuropsychological test battery measuring working memory processes, attentional control and inhibition aspects of executive functions. Additionally, subjects were screened with different personality questionnaires including the I7 Impulsiveness Questionnaire and the Buss Durkee Aggression Questionnaire. The questionnaire data hinted at a higher proneness for anger in carriers of the 7 repeat alleles. In the second part of the study, we selected participants based on the presence of specific DRD4 exon III alleles yielding groups of subjects being either homozygous for the 7 repeat or the 4 repeat allele. We conducted an event-related potential study to examine possible group differences in inhibitory functions. Participants performed a Go/Nogo-task that allowed us to analyze inhibition related prefrontal functions in a parametric way. Group differences were detected both in the behavioral data and in the Nogo-N2. The results can thus help to clarify the neural underpinnings of the association between the DRD4 exon III polymorphism and ADHD and add to the evidence for an important role of dopaminergic genes in executive functions. Conference: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Bodrum, Turkey, 1 Sep - 5 Sep, 2008. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Genetics of Cognition Citation: Kramer U, Rojo N, Schöls L, Schüle R, Rodriguez-Fornells A and Münte T (2008). The impact of the DRD4 exon III polymorphism on inhibitory functions – Evidence from behavioral and EEG-studies. Conference Abstract: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.01.247 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 09 Dec 2008; Published Online: 09 Dec 2008. * Correspondence: U. Kramer, Institute for Psychology II, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany, umkraemer@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers U. Kramer N. Rojo L. Schöls R. Schüle A. Rodriguez-Fornells T.F Münte Google U. Kramer N. Rojo L. Schöls R. Schüle A. Rodriguez-Fornells T.F Münte Google Scholar U. Kramer N. Rojo L. Schöls R. Schüle A. Rodriguez-Fornells T.F Münte PubMed U. Kramer N. Rojo L. Schöls R. Schüle A. Rodriguez-Fornells T.F Münte Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.