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Association between the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and mesolimbic responses to rewards.

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Date
2014-01-31
Authors
Damiano, Cara R
Aloi, Joseph
Dunlap, Kaitlyn
Burrus, Caley J
Mosner, Maya G
Kozink, Rachel V
McLaurin, Ralph Edward
Mullette-Gillman, O'Dhaniel A
Carter, Ronald McKell
Huettel, Scott A
McClernon, Francis Joseph
Ashley-Koch, Allison
Dichter, Gabriel S
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(13 total)
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: There has been significant progress in identifying genes that confer risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, the heterogeneity of symptom presentation in ASDs impedes the detection of ASD risk genes. One approach to understanding genetic influences on ASD symptom expression is to evaluate relations between variants of ASD candidate genes and neural endophenotypes in unaffected samples. Allelic variations in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene confer small but significant risk for ASDs for which the underlying mechanisms may involve associations between variability in oxytocin signaling pathways and neural response to rewards. The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate the influence of allelic variability in the OXTR gene on neural responses to monetary rewards in healthy adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHODS: The moderating effects of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1042778, rs2268493 and rs237887) of the OXTR gene on mesolimbic responses to rewards were evaluated using a monetary incentive delay fMRI task. RESULTS: T homozygotes of the rs2268493 SNP demonstrated relatively decreased activation in mesolimbic reward circuitry (including the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, insula, thalamus and prefrontal cortical regions) during the anticipation of rewards but not during the outcome phase of the task. Allelic variation of the rs1042778 and rs237887 SNPs did not moderate mesolimbic activation during either reward anticipation or outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that the OXTR SNP rs2268493, which has been previously identified as an ASD risk gene, moderates mesolimbic responses during reward anticipation. Given previous findings of decreased mesolimbic activation during reward anticipation in ASD, the present results suggest that OXTR may confer ASD risk via influences on the neural systems that support reward anticipation.
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Journal article
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/12955
Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1186/2040-2392-5-7
Publication Info
Damiano, Cara R; Aloi, Joseph; Dunlap, Kaitlyn; Burrus, Caley J; Mosner, Maya G; Kozink, Rachel V; ... Dichter, Gabriel S (2014). Association between the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and mesolimbic responses to rewards. Mol Autism, 5(1). pp. 7. 10.1186/2040-2392-5-7. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/12955.
This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Scholars@Duke

Ashley-Koch

Allison Elizabeth Ashley-Koch

Professor in Medicine
One of my major research foci is in the genetic basis of psychiatric and neurological disorders. I am currently involved in studies to dissect the genetic etiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, chiari type I malformations, essential tremor, and neural tube defects. Additional research foci include genetic modifiers of sickle cell disease, and genetic contributions to birth outcomes, particularly among African American women.
Dichter

Gabriel S. Dichter

Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
This author no longer has a Scholars@Duke profile, so the information shown here reflects their Duke status at the time this item was deposited.
Huettel

Scott Huettel

Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Research in my laboratory investigates the brain mechanisms underlying economic and social decision making; collectively, this research falls into the field of “decision neuroscience” or "neuroeconomics". My laboratory uses fMRI to probe brain function, behavioral assays to characterize individual differences, and other physiological methods (e.g., eye tracking, pharmacological manipulation, genetics) to link brain and behavior. Concurrent with research on basic processes, my labo
McClernon

F Joseph McClernon

Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Joe McClernon, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Founder/Director of the Center for Addiction Science and Technology (CfAST), and Director of Evaluation and Strategic Planning in the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). He earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2001 from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke in 2002. He served as Director of the Addiction Division in Psychiatry
Alphabetical list of authors with Scholars@Duke profiles.
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