Journal
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Volume 83, Issue 3, Pages 269-271Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.08.009
Keywords
Anxiety; Attention bias; Serotonin-transporter gene polymorphism; 5-HTTLPR; Dot-probe task; Intermediate phenotypes
Funding
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- NIH [MH074454, HD17899]
- NIMH [MH073569]
- NARSAD (Blowitz-Ridgeway Young Investigator Award)
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Both attention biases to threat and a serotonin-transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) have been linked to heightened neural activation to threat and the emergence of anxiety. The short allele of 5-HTTLPR may act via its effect on neurotransmitter availability, while attention biases shape broad patterns of cognitive processing. We examined individual differences in attention bias to emotion faces as a function of 5-HTTLPR genotype. Adolescents (N = 117) were classified for presumed SLC6A4 expression based on 5-HTTLPR low (SS, SL(G), or L(G)L(G)), intermediate (SL(A) or L(A)L(G)), or high (L(A)L(A)). Participants completed the dot-probe task, measuring attention biases toward or away from angry and happy faces. Biases for angry faces increased with the genotype-predicted neurotransmission levels (low > intermediate > high). The reverse pattern was evident for happy faces. The data indicate a linear relation between 5-HTTLPR allelic status and attention biases to emotion, demonstrating a genetic mechanism for biased attention using ecologically valid stimuli that target socioemotional adaptation. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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