NOS1 ex1f-VNTR polymorphism affects prefrontal oxygenation during response inhibition tasks
Juliane Kopf1, Martin Schecklmann, Tim Hahn
1Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Clinical and Molecular Psychobiology, Wuerzburg, Germany. KopfJ1@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
Human Brain Mapping
|September 17, 2011
Summary
The NOS1 ex1f-VNTR gene
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Impulsivity is a key trait in psychiatric disorders, linked to the NOS1 ex1f-VNTR gene.
- Short variants of NOS1 ex1f-VNTR are associated with increased impulsive behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying impulsivity related to NOS1 ex1f-VNTR variants.
- To examine prefrontal cortex activity during inhibitory control tasks in relation to NOS1 ex1f-VNTR genotype.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-six healthy adults were divided into homozygous long (LL) and short (SS) NOS1 ex1f-VNTR allele groups.
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured prefrontal cortex oxygenation during a stop-signal go/nogo task.
- Electromyography and impulsivity questionnaires were used for control and assessment.
Main Results:
- Distinct prefrontal cortex activation patterns were observed between the nogo and stop-signal tasks.
- The LL group showed increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) activity during nogo trials and inferior frontal cortex (IFC) activation during successful inhibition.
- The SS group exhibited diminished prefrontal activity during inhibitory control in the stop-signal task.
Conclusions:
- The NOS1 ex1f-VNTR gene influences impulsivity by affecting prefrontal cortex activity during inhibition.
- Reduced prefrontal control in short allele carriers may underlie impulsivity and associated psychiatric disorders.
