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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
08:39
Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse
Published on: November 10, 2010
Predicting sensation seeking from dopamine genes. A candidate-system approach
Jaime Derringer1, Robert F Krueger, Danielle M Dick
1Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. derri023@umn.edu
Psychological Science
|August 25, 2010
Summary
Genetic variations in dopamine genes significantly influence sensation-seeking behavior. Multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within these genes collectively explain a substantial portion of individual differences in this heritable personality trait.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Sensation seeking is a heritable personality trait linked to behavioral disorders.
- The dopamine system is implicated in individual differences in sensation-seeking behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic associations of dopaminergic genes with sensation-seeking behavior.
- To examine the aggregate effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in dopamine genes on sensation seeking.
Main Methods:
- Candidate-system genetic association analysis.
- Analysis of 273 SNPs from eight dopamine genes in 635 unrelated individuals.
- Examination of aggregate SNP effects on sensation-seeking behavior.
Main Results:
- Multiple SNPs within four dopamine genes significantly accounted for variance in sensation-seeking behavior.
- An aggregated genetic-risk score from relevant SNPs explained a significant proportion of trait variance.
- Dopamine gene variations contribute to individual differences in sensation seeking.
Conclusions:
- Multiple genetic variations within the dopamine system collectively influence sensation-seeking behavior.
- Aggregated SNPs in neurobiological system genes can form a genetic-risk score for human traits.
- This approach advances understanding of the genetic underpinnings of personality traits like sensation seeking.
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