The SLC6A3 3'-UTR VNTR and intron 8 VNTR polymorphisms association in the time estimation

Brain Struct Funct. 2019 Jan;224(1):253-262. doi: 10.1007/s00429-018-1773-3. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Abstract

Objective: The present study investigated the association of 3'-UTR VNTR and intron 8 VNTR polymorphisms with a time estimation task performance.

Materials and methods: One hundred and eight men in a Brazilian Northeast population (18-32 years old) participated in the experiment. The 3'-UTR VNTR and intron 8 VNTR polymorphisms were associated alone and combined to absolute error (AE) and relative error (RE) in a time estimation task (target duration: 1 s, 4 s, 7 s and 9 s).

Results: We found an association of the behavioral variable with intron 8 VNTR for the time intervals of 1 s and 9 s (p < 0.001) and polymorphisms combinatorial effect for 1 s (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: The intron 8 VNTR polymorphism and the combinatorial effect can modulate the time estimate in the domain of supra seconds, and thus our study indicates a role of the dopamine transporter in the neurobiological areas related to the time intervals judgment.

Keywords: Dopamine; SLC6A3 3′-UTR VNTR; SLC6A3 intron 8 VNTR; Time estimation; Time perception.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brazil
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Introns*
  • Judgment
  • Male
  • Minisatellite Repeats*
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Time Perception*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • SLC6A3 protein, human
  • Dopamine