BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR Genotype are Each Associated with Visual Scanning Patterns of Faces in Young Children

Christou, Antonios I.; Wallis, Yvonne; Bair, Hayley; Crawford, Hayley; Frisson, Steven; Zeegers, Maurice P.; McCleery, Joseph P.

doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00175

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 81 publications

(111 reference statements)

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“…Here, SNPs are selected a priori, on a theoretical basis with regard to their functions and previous findings, as evidence suggests many SNPs directly or indirectly affect neurotransmitter function and other neural mechanisms that may play a particular role in phenotypic expression. Our work, and that of others, has identified that normal genotypic variation is associated with differences in important behaviours in typically developing populations [7,8].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Genetic modifiers in rare disorders: the case of fragile X syndrome

et al. 2020

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Methods employed in genome-wide association studies are not feasible ways to explore genotype-phenotype associations in rare disorders due to limited statistical power. An alternative approach is to examine relationships among specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), selected a priori, and behavioural characteristics. Here, we adopt this strategy to examine relationships between three SNPs (5-HTTLPR, MAOA, COMT) and specific clinically-relevant behaviours that are phenotypic of fragile X syndrome (FXS) but vary in severity and frequency across individuals. Sixty-four males with FXS participated in the current study. Data from standardised informant measures of challenging behaviour (defined as physical aggression, property destruction, stereotyped behaviour, and self-injury), autism symptomatology, attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder characteristics, repetitive behaviour and mood/interest and pleasure were compared between each SNP genotype. No association was observed between behavioural characteristics and either 5-HTTLPR (serotonin) or MAOA (monoamine oxidase) genotypes. However, compared to the COMT (dopamine) AG and GG genotypes, the AA genotype was associated with greater interest and pleasure in the environment, and with reduced risk for property destruction, stereotyped behaviour and compulsive behaviour. The results suggest that common genetic variation in the COMT genotype affecting dopamine levels in the brain may contribute to the variability of challenging and repetitive behaviours and interest and pleasure in this population. This study identifies a role for additional genetic risk in understanding the neural and genetic mechanisms contributing to phenotypic variability in neurodevelopmental disorders, and highlights the merit of investigating SNPs that are selected a priori on a theoretical basis in rare populations.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Genetic modifiers in rare disorders: the case of fragile X syndrome

et al. 2020

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“…Finally, although genetic reports were not available for the current study, future research could investigate the relationship between genetic factors and social attention. Interestingly, our previous work has demonstrated a relationship between genetic variation and visual scanning of emotional faces [43]. Overall looking time indicated good levels of task engagement by both groups, highlighting the opportunities afforded by using eye tracking to investigate the mechanisms subserving clinically relevant behaviours in males with FXS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Differential effects of anxiety and autism on social scene scanning in males with fragile X syndrome

Crawford

Moss

Oliver

et al. 2017

J Neurodevelop Disord

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Background: Existing literature draws links between social attention and socio-behavioural profiles in neurodevelopmental disorders. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is associated with a known socio-behavioural phenotype of social anxiety and social communication difficulties alongside high social motivation. However, studies investigating social attention in males with FXS are scarce. Using eye tracking, this study investigates social attention and its relationship with both anxiety and autism symptomatology in males with FXS. Methods: We compared dwell times to the background, body, and face regions of naturalistic social scenes in 11 males with FXS (M age = 26.29) and 11 typically developing (TD) children who were matched on gender and receptive language ability (M age = 6.28). Using informant-report measures, we then investigated the relationships between social scene scanning and anxiety, and social scene scanning and social communicative impairments. Results: Males with FXS did not differ to TD children on overall dwell time to the background, body, or face regions of the naturalistic social scenes. Whilst males with FXS displayed developmentally 'typical' social attention, increased looking at faces was associated with both heightened anxiety and fewer social communication impairments in this group. Conclusions: These results offer novel insights into the mechanisms associated with social attention in FXS and provide evidence to suggest that anxiety and autism symptomatology, which are both heightened in FXS, have differential effects on social attention.

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“…Viewing was binocular, but only data from the right eye were collected. All children initially participated on a short face processing eye-tracking experiment with an overall duration of 3-min (see Christou et al, 2015 ). After the completion of the first experiment, children were given a short break and were prepared to participate in the affective processing experiment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During calibration, the EyeLink recorded the eye position and a 9-target location calibration was conducted providing the required reference data for computing gaze positions to ensure a point of fixation error rate of less than 0.5 degrees. A mini calibration was repeated every five trials in order to ensure that eye movement data were adjusted for small-scale movement of the head (see also Christou et al, 2015 ). In the case of unsatisfactory eye-tracking, a 9-point calibration was repeated.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is also emerging evidence suggesting increased rumination (e.g., Beevers et al, 2009 ) and deficits in fear conditioning ( Hajcak et al, 2009 ) in adult carriers of the BDNF Met allele. However, only one study has been conducted to examine the role the BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms in affective reactivity in young children ( Christou et al, 2015 ), where children carrying the low-plasticity Met BDNF allele were found to exhibit a vigilance-avoidance pattern of viewing when viewing angry (versus neutral) faces for 2500 ms. In addition, the same study reported that young children carrying the low serotonin uptake-related Short 5-HTTLPR allele spent less time fixating the eye region of neutral faces and more time fixating the mouth region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Serotonin 5-HTTLPR Genotype Modulates Reactive Visual Scanning of Social and Non-social Affective Stimuli in Young Children

Christou

Wallis

Bair

et al. 2017

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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Previous studies have documented the 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms as genetic variants that are involved in serotonin availability and also associated with emotion regulation and facial emotion processing. In particular, neuroimaging and behavioral studies of healthy populations have produced evidence to suggest that carriers of the Short allele exhibit heightened neurophysiological and behavioral reactivity when processing aversive stimuli, particularly in brain regions involved in fear. However, an additional distinction has emerged in the field, which highlights particular types of fearful information, i.e., aversive information which involves a social component versus non-social aversive stimuli. Although processing of each of these stimulus types (social and non-social) is believed to involve a subcortical neural system which includes the amygdala, evidence also suggests that the amygdala itself may be particularly responsive to socially significant environmental information, potentially due to the critical relevance of social information for humans. Examining individual differences in neurotransmitter systems which operate within this subcortical network, and in particular the serotonin system, may be critically informative for furthering our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying responses to emotional and affective stimuli. In the present study we examine visual scanning patterns in response to both aversive and positive images of a social or non-social nature in relation to 5-HTTLPR genotypes, in 49 children aged 4-7 years. Results indicate that children with at least one Short 5-HTTLPR allele spent less time fixating the threat-related non-social stimuli, compared with participants with two copies of the Long allele. Interestingly, a separate set of analyses suggests that carriers of two copies of the short 5-HTTLPR allele also spent less time fixating both the negative and positive non-social stimuli. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that genetically mediated differences in serotonin availability mediate behavioral responses to different types of emotional stimuli in young children.

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BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR Genotype are Each Associated with Visual Scanning Patterns of Faces in Young Children

Cited by 9 publications

References 81 publications

Genetic modifiers in rare disorders: the case of fragile X syndrome

Genetic modifiers in rare disorders: the case of fragile X syndrome

Differential effects of anxiety and autism on social scene scanning in males with fragile X syndrome

Serotonin 5-HTTLPR Genotype Modulates Reactive Visual Scanning of Social and Non-social Affective Stimuli in Young Children

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