Relationships among 5-HTT genotype, life events and gender in the recognition of facial emotions

Abstract Accumulating evidence has shown that a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin-transporter (5-HTTLPR) modulates neural activation during the perceptual processing of emotional facial expressions. Furthermore, behavioral research has shown that attentional bias for negative info...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience 2011-01, Vol.172 (1), p.303-313
Main Authors: Antypa, N, Cerit, H, Kruijt, A.W, Verhoeven, F.E.A, Van der Does, A.J.W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adult Survivors of Child Abuse - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Emotions - physiology
facial emotion recognition
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gender
gene-environment interaction
Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics
Genotype
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mood Disorders - genetics
Mood Disorders - metabolism
Mood Disorders - psychology
Neurology
Perceptual Disorders - genetics
Perceptual Disorders - metabolism
Perceptual Disorders - physiopathology
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics
serotonin transporter gene
Sex Characteristics
Sex Factors
Stress, Psychological - genetics
Stress, Psychological - metabolism
Stress, Psychological - psychology
stressful life events
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Accumulating evidence has shown that a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin-transporter (5-HTTLPR) modulates neural activation during the perceptual processing of emotional facial expressions. Furthermore, behavioral research has shown that attentional bias for negative information is increased in s allele carriers. We examined the interactions among 5-HTTLPR (including SNP rs25531), life events and gender on the detection of facial emotions. We found a main effect of genotype, as well as moderating effects of childhood emotional abuse (CEA) and recent life events (RLE). S homozygous participants recognized negative facial expressions at a lower intensity than the other genotype groups. This effect was more evident in female participants and in participants who had experienced life events. The 5-HTTLPR genotype affects facial emotional perception, a process which is linked to a neurobiological response to threat and vulnerability to emotional disorders.
ISSN:0306-4522
1873-7544
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.10.042