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Ventro-lateral prefrontal activity during working memory is modulated by MAO A genetic variation
Antonio Cerasa1, Maria C Gioia, Francesco Fera
1Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Piano Lago di Mangone, Cosenza, Italy. a.cerasa@isn.cnr.it
Brain Research
|February 26, 2008
Summary
The Mono-Amine Oxidase A (MAO A) gene
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Psychology
Background:
- The serotonergic system plays a role in working memory (WM).
- Mono-Amine Oxidase A (MAO A) gene influences serotonin levels.
- A functional polymorphism in MAO A (VNTR) affects enzyme activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between MAO A genotype and brain activity during spatial working memory.
- To determine if MAO A influences prefrontal cortex (PFC) function in WM tasks.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity.
- Participants performed a spatial working memory task (n-back).
- 30 healthy males were genotyped for MAO A and COMT polymorphisms.
Main Results:
- High activity MAO A allele carriers showed increased activity in the right ventro-lateral PFC (VLPFC) during high WM load.
- This association was statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- MAO A genotype influences PFC function during spatial working memory.
- Specific prefrontal regions like VLPFC are sensitive to MAO A genotype.
- Serotonin (5-HT) is implicated in PFC-mediated working memory.
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