Human fear reconsolidation and allelic differences in serotonergic and dopaminergic genes

Transl Psychiatry. 2012 Feb 7;2(2):e76. doi: 10.1038/tp.2012.5.

Abstract

Fear memory persistence, central for the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders, is partially genetically controlled. Recently, consolidation and reconsolidation processes have been reported to affect fear memory stability and integrity. This study explored the impact of reconsolidation processes and genetic make-up on fear reacquisition by manipulating reconsolidation, using extinction performed outside or inside a reconsolidation interval. Reacquisition measured by skin conductance responses was stronger in individuals that extinguished outside (6 h) than inside (10 min) the reconsolidation interval. However, the effect was predominantly present in val/val homozygotes of the functional val158met polymorphism of the catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme and in short-allele carriers of the serotonin-transporter length 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. These results demonstrate that reconsolidation of human fear memory is influenced by dopamine and serotonin-related genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles*
  • Anxiety Disorders / genetics*
  • Anxiety Disorders / physiopathology
  • Arousal / genetics*
  • Arousal / physiology
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase / genetics*
  • Conditioning, Classical / physiology
  • Dopamine / physiology*
  • Extinction, Psychological / physiology
  • Fear / physiology*
  • Female
  • Galvanic Skin Response / genetics
  • Galvanic Skin Response / physiology
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Recall / physiology*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*
  • Serotonin / physiology*
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • SLC6A4 protein, human
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Serotonin
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase
  • Dopamine