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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Its clear people react differently to the same trauma. Some people just have a bad memory and others suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder. New research reveals this difference may stem from ones genetic makeup. Researchers discovered a link between a gene and anxious behavior.
The study included 96 women who were on average 22-years-old. The women were part of the Glessen Gene Brain Behavior Project, which investigates biomolecular causes of individual differences in behavior.
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Researchers found people who carry a common variation of a gene that regulates the neurotransmitter dopamine have an exaggerated reflex when viewing unpleasant pictures. That gene is called the COMT gene and it has two variations including Val158 and Met158. A person either has one copy of each variation, two copies of Val158 or two copies of Met158. Scientists say those people with two copies of the Met158 variation of the COMT gene had a significantly stronger startle reflex compared to those with one copy of each or two copies of Val158.
Study authors say this finding confirms specific variations in the gene that regulates dopamine signaling may play a role in negative emotionality. They add this single gene variation may be one of many factors influencing anxiety, but they say its a step in the right direction to be able to identify genes associated with anxiety prone people. They hope this type of research will lead to better treatments for anxiety disorders.
SOURCE: Behavioral Neuroscience, 2008;122:4
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