| Literature DB >> 26347681 |
Yvette N Lamb1, Christopher S Thompson1, Nicole S McKay1, Karen E Waldie1, Ian J Kirk1.
Abstract
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene influence brain structure and function, as well as cognitive abilities. They are most influential in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC), respectively. Recall and recognition are forms of memory proposed to have different neural substrates, with recall having a greater dependence on the PFC and hippocampus. This study aimed to determine whether the BDNF val(66)met or COMT val(158)met polymorphisms differentially affect recall and recognition, and whether these polymorphisms interact. A sample of 100 healthy adults was assessed on recall and familiarity-based recognition using the Faces and Family Pictures subscales of the Wechsler Memory Scale - Third Edition (WMS-III). COMT genotype did not affect performance on either task. The BDNF polymorphism (i.e., met carriers relative to val homozygotes) was associated with poorer recall ability, while not influencing recognition. Combining subscale scores in memory tests such as the WMS might obscure gene effects. Our results demonstrate the importance of distinguishing between recall and familiarity-based recognition in neurogenetics research.Entities:
Keywords: BDNF; memory; neurogenetics; recall; recognition
Year: 2015 PMID: 26347681 PMCID: PMC4538220 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01212
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Front Psychol ISSN: 1664-1078
Mean recall and recognition scores for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotypes.
| Form of memory | Mean | SE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recall | Val/Val | Val allele | 76.8 | 2.08 | 40 |
| Met/Met | 81.8 | 3.65 | 13 | ||
| Total | 79.3 | 2.10 | 53 | ||
| Met allele | Val allele | 75.3 | 2.32 | 32 | |
| Met/Met | 68.8 | 3.40 | 15 | ||
| Total | 72.0 | 2.06 | 47 | ||
| Total | Val allele | 76.1 | 1.56 | 72 | |
| Met/Met | 75.3 | 2.49 | 28 | ||
| Total | 75.8 | 1.34 | 100 | ||
| Recognition | Val/Val | Val allele | 79.1 | 1.71 | 40 |
| Met/Met | 81.1 | 3.01 | 13 | ||
| Total | 80.1 | 1.73 | 53 | ||
| Met allele | Val allele | 78.8 | 1.92 | 32 | |
| Met/Met | 82.6 | 2.80 | 15 | ||
| Total | 80.7 | 1.70 | 47 | ||
| Total | Val allele | 78.9 | 1.29 | 72 | |
| Met/Met | 81.9 | 2.05 | 28 | ||
| Total | 79.8 | 1.08 | 100 |
MANOVA for recall (Family Pictures) and recognition (Faces) scores with BDNF genotype and COMT genotype as the between-subjects variables.
| Source | df | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recall | 6.204* | 1 | 0.014 | |
| Recognition | 0.068 | 1 | 0.795 | |
| Recall | 0.068 | 1 | 0.795 | |
| Recognition | 1.477 | 1 | 0.227 | |
| BDNF*COMT | Recall | 3.864 | 1 | 0.052 |
| Recognition | 0.143 | 1 | 0.706 | |
| Error | 96 |