A Twin Study of the Genetics of Fear Conditioning

Hettema, John M.; Annas, Peter; Neale, Michael C.; Kendler, Kenneth S.; Fredrikson, Mats

doi:10.1001/archpsyc.60.7.702

Cited by 145 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

108

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In a prior analysis, we demonstrated that the electrodermal skin conductance response (SCR) amplitudes seen in response to the habituation, acquisition, and extinction components of the classical fear conditioning paradigm are moderately heritable and share a substantial proportion of their underlying genetic factors (17). Similarly, Crider et al showed that nonspecific electrodermal response (EDR) lability and speed of habituation exhibited genetic covariation, with heritability similar to our estimate for SCR (40-50%).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…The second (A 2 ) models associative learning that takes place during the fear conditioning process in the acquisition and extinction phases, which may also be shared with SRF. These two reflect our prior finding that two genetic factors are sufficient to account for individual differences in the five electrophysiologic response variables (17). Finally, we postulated a third factor (A 6 -corresponding to the sixth measured variable, SRF) that accounts for individual variation in self-report fears not accounted for by the factors explaining the electrophysiologic responses.…”

Section: Statistical Analysessupporting

confidence: 71%

“…Details of the fear conditioning paradigm were presented previously (17). The outcome measures were electrodermal skin conductance response (SCR) amplitudes recorded at discrete intervals during the presentation sequences.…”

Section: Electrophysiologic Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under the basic twin model, individual differences in liability for the phenotype of interest are assumed to arise from four sources: additive genes (A), genetic dominance (D), common or familial environment (C) (e.g., social class or rearing), and individual-specific environment (E) (e.g., marital discord). Also, because we had already determined that only A and E significantly contributed to individual differences in SCR (17), and fear symptoms and phobias have similarly been shown to depend primarily on A and E in adults (5), we began our analyses with AE baseline models. We fit the models with maximum likelihood estimation of the contributions of A and E using the raw data option of the Mx statistical modeling program (30).…”

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Genetic Covariation Between Fear Conditioning and Self-Report Fears

Hettema

Annas

Neale

et al. 2008

Biological Psychiatry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background-Fear conditioning is a traditional model for the acquisition of phobias, while behavioral therapies utilize processes underlying extinction to treat phobic and other anxiety disorders. Furthermore, fear conditioning has been proposed as an endophenotype for genetic studies of anxiety disorders. While prior studies have demonstrated that fear conditioning and self-report fears are heritable, no studies have determined whether they share a common genetic basis.

show abstract

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Statistical Analysessupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Electrophysiologic Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Genetic Covariation Between Fear Conditioning and Self-Report Fears

Hettema

Annas

Neale

et al. 2008

Biological Psychiatry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We excluded studies that depended on electrodermal skin conductance (i.e., Hettema, Annas, Neale, Kendler, & Fredrikson, 2003) or other non-specific diagnostic tools without additional psychological assessment. Literature reviews were excluded.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears

Houtem

Laine

Boomsma³

et al. 2013

Journal of Anxiety Disorders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

General rightsIt is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulationsIf you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible. Download date: 11 May 2018A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears Highlights• Data on the genetic liability of fears and specific phobias are scarce.• Heritability estimates of fears and specific phobias fall within a range of 0%-71%.• The category of blood-injury-injection fears and phobias have the highest heritability estimates.• Phenotypic variance can mostly be explained by additive genetic and unique environmental effects. AbstractEvidence from twin studies suggests that genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing a fear or a phobia. The aim of the present study was to review the current literature regarding twin studies describing the genetic basis of specific phobias and their corresponding fears. The analysis included five twin studies on fears and ten twin studies on specific phobias. Heritability estimates of fear subtypes and specific phobia subtypes both varied widely, even within the subtypes. A meta-analysis performed on the twin study results indicated that fears and specific phobias are moderately heritable. The highest heritability (± SEM) among fear subtypes was found for animal fear (0.45±0.004), and among specific phobias for the blood-injury-injection phobia (0.33±0.06). For most phenotypes, variance could be explained solely by additive genetic and unique environmental effects. Given the dearth of independent data on the heritability of specific phobias and fears, additional research is needed.

show abstract