The effect of BDNF val66met polymorphism on visuomotor adaptation

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in learning, memory, and brain plasticity. Humans with a val66met polymorphism in the BDNF gene have reduced levels of BDNF and alterations in motor learning and short-term cortical plasticity. In the current study, we sought to further explore the role of BDNF in motor learning by testing human subjects on a visuomotor adaptation task. In experiment 1, 21 subjects with the polymorphism (val/met) and 21 matched controls (val/val) were tested during learning, short-term retention (45 min), long-term retention (24 h), and de-adaptation of a 60° visuomotor deviation. We measured both mean error as well as rate of adaptation during each session. There was no difference in mean error between groups; however, val/met subjects had a reduced rate of adaptation during learning as well as during long-term retention, but not short-term retention or de-adaptation. In experiment 2, 12 val/met and 12 val/val subjects were tested on a larger 80° deviation, revealing a more pronounced difference in mean error during adaptation than the 60° deviation. These results suggest that BDNF may play an important role in visuomotor adaptive processes in the human.

Vascular function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor: The functional capacity factor

“…1 Its function includes promoting growth and survival of neurons, synaptic plasticity, efficacy, and modulation. As a consequence, the protein is involved profoundly in learning and memory.…”

“…As a consequence, the protein is involved profoundly in learning and memory. 1 Though the exact role is yet to be clarified, BDNF is also expressed and found throughout the cardiovascular system, including the heart, 2 vascular smooth muscle, 3,4 platelets, 5 and in the systemic circulation. 6 It promotes angiogenesis, and enhances the capillary density of ischemic limb 7 and nitric oxide (NO) production, 8 and thus facilitates vasodilation and tissue perfusion, and accelerates blood flow recovery after ischemia.…”

Do Environmental Factors (Practice and Feedback) Moderate the Effect of the Val66met BDNF Polymorphism on Motor Learning?

“…Due to the vital role of BDNF in facilitation of the processes related to motor learning [5] and in formation of long term potentiation (LTP), known as long term synaptic plasticity or motor memory consolidation 8 , it is tempting to hypothesize that the polymorphism might affect motor learning. McHughen et al, (2010) investigated the motion of the index finger performing a motor task using fMRI and concluded met-carriers have lower activation volume than others in several brain areas 9 .…”

“…BDNF is one of the most abundant neurotrophic factors in various structures of the adult brain associated with synaptic plasticity, learning and memory 4 . BDNF's influence on synaptic plasticity, with a known role in the induction and maintenance of memory and learning, is due to its capacity to regulate vital synaptic functions such as synaptic transmission, neuronal survival, differentiation, and development 5 .…”

“…Since it is impossible to investigate a human brain directly, the effect of BDNF in humans has in large part been revealed through studying individuals with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the BDNF gene, which results in a valineto-methionine substitution at codon 66 (val66met) 5 . The advent or absence of SNP genetically divides people into three categories: people with two valine at codon 66 (val/val), people with a valine and a methionine (val/met), and people with two methionine (met/met).…”