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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
11:18

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Published on: September 12, 2014

ADORA2A Gene variation, caffeine, and emotional processing: a multi-level interaction on startle reflex.

Katharina Domschke1, Agnieszka Gajewska, Bernward Winter

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany. katharina.domschke@ukmuenster.de

Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
|October 21, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Caffeine

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Anxiety disorders arise from complex interactions of genetic, biochemical, and neuropsychological factors.
  • These factors influence intermediate anxiety phenotypes like the startle reflex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a multi-level model of anxiety pathogenesis.
  • To examine caffeine's effect on the emotion-potentiated startle reflex.
  • To assess the role of the adenosine A2A receptor (ADORA2A) 1976T>C polymorphism.

Main Methods:

  • Double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 110 healthy individuals.
  • Administration of 300mg caffeine citrate versus placebo.
  • Measurement of emotion-potentiated startle reflex using International Affective Picture System stimuli.
  • Stratification based on ADORA2A 1976T>C genotype (rs5751876).

Main Results:

  • A significant interaction between genotype, intervention, and picture category was observed.
  • ADORA2A 1976TT risk genotype carriers showed heightened startle responses to unpleasant pictures after caffeine.
  • This effect was particularly pronounced in the female subgroup.

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest a complex, multi-level, and potentially gender-specific model for anxiety pathogenesis.
  • Genetic and biochemical factors interact to increase the risk of maladaptive emotional processing.
  • Results may aid in refining risk profiles for anxiety prevention.