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CACNA1C risk variant affects microstructural connectivity of the amygdala
Katharina Koch1, Sophia Stegmaier1, Lena Schwarz1
1Department of General Psychiatry, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Neuroimage. Clinical
|March 26, 2019
Summary
Genetic variations in CACNA1C impact brain structure, specifically the amygdala, affecting emotional prosody processing in healthy individuals. This may indicate a neurobiological marker for affective disorders and altered emotion perception.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatric Genetics
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Deficits in emotional prosody perception are observed in affective disorders.
- CACNA1C is a significant genetic risk factor for psychiatric disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of CACNA1C genetic variations on emotional prosody processing.
- To examine behavioral, functional, and microstructural effects using an imaging genetics approach.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were used.
- Healthy participants were studied, focusing on the amygdala and voice areas.
- The CACNA1C rs1006737 genotype was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Emotional prosody elicited stronger activation than neutral prosody in voice areas and the amygdala.
- CACNA1C genotype did not influence fMRI activity.
- Significant microstructural differences (mean diffusivity) were found in the amygdala of risk allele carriers.
Conclusions:
- CACNA1C rs1006737 genotype is associated with amygdala microstructural differences.
- These brain architecture modifications may serve as a neurobiological marker for affective disorders.
- Altered amygdala microstructure might contribute to changes in emotion perception.
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