The D2 dopamine receptor mediates neuropsychiatric symptoms and is a target of pharmacotherapy. Inter-individual variation of D2 receptor density is thought to influence disease risk and pharmacological response. Numerous molecular imaging studies have tested whether common genetic variants influence D2 receptor binding potential (BP) in humans, but demonstration of robust effects has been limited by small sample sizes. We performed a systematic search of published human in vivo molecular imaging studies to estimate effect sizes of common genetic variants on striatal D2 receptor BP. We identified 21 studies examining 19 variants in 11 genes. The most commonly studied variant was a single-nucleotide polymorphism in ANKK1 (rs1800497, Glu713Lys, also called ‘Taq1A'). Fixed- and random-effects meta-analyses of this variant (5 studies, 194 subjects total) revealed that striatal BP was significantly and robustly lower among carriers of the minor allele (Lys713) relative to major allele homozygotes. The weighted standardized mean difference was −0.57 under the fixed-effect model (95% confidence interval=(−0.87, −0.27), P=0.0002). The normal relationship between rs1800497 and BP was not apparent among subjects with neuropsychiatric diseases. Significant associations with baseline striatal D2 receptor BP have been reported for four DRD2 variants (rs1079597, rs1076560, rs6277 and rs1799732) and a PER2 repeat polymorphism, but none have yet been tested in more than two independent samples. Our findings resolve apparent discrepancies in the literature and establish that rs1800497 robustly influences striatal D2 receptor availability. This genetic variant is likely to contribute to important individual differences in human striatal function, neuropsychiatric disease risk and pharmacological response.

We have previously reported that visuospatial working memory performance and magnitude of activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex predict the rate of manual visuomotor adaptation. Sensorimotor savings, or faster adaptation to a previously experienced perturbation, has been recently linked to cognitive processes. We show that facilitating the right prefrontal cortex with anodal transcranial direct current stimulation enhances sensorimotor savings compared with sham stimulation.

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Background: Due to decreased access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and an increase in depressive symptoms, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated the risk of unsafe sexual behaviors among already vulnerable young adults assigned female at birth (AFAB). Despite its potential for improving SRH outcomes, little is known about how young adults view virtual SRH counseling.We designed a survey to examine these perspectives and further characterize pandemic-associated changes in mood and healthcare access in young adults AFAB.Methods: Patients of a Midwest family planning organization who were AFAB and aged 21-24 years were recruited via convenience sampling between May and September 2021. Participants answered survey questions about how they perceived that the pandemic had affected their mood and healthcare access. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-8 assessed depressive symptoms. Additional questions probed SRH risk behaviors and experience with and opinions on virtual healthcare and research. Non-responses to questions were not included in analyses. Associations among these variables were analyzed using non-parametric bivariate tests (chi-square and Mann-Whitney U).Results: One hundred twenty people participated in the survey. Participants had a median age of 22 years and self-identified predominantly as female and White. Three-quarters of respondents reported their mood worsened as a result of the pandemic and more than 3 in 10 had depression. Those reporting pandemicworsened mood had more severe depressive symptoms than those who did not (U=722.500, P=0.005).Most reported sexual intercourse in the past 3 months, nearly all of whom reported at least one SRH risk. Pandemic mood impacts were not associated with SRH risk. One in four participants reported pandemicassociated difficulty accessing healthcare, which was not associated with depression or SRH risk. Most reported comfort with videoconference healthcare, including technology, speaking with a provider, and having enough privacy. Conclusions:The COVID-19 pandemic has increased depression and SRH risk among young adults AFAB and, at the same, impeded their access to healthcare. The study findings suggest that no matter the degree of depression or presence of SRH risk, videoconferencing may be an acceptable option for advancing research and addressing unmet SRH needs in this population.