A Study On The Relationship Of The Genes In Dopamine, 5-serotonin, Glutamate Neurotransmitter Systems And Human Cognitive Ability

Cognitive abilities are heritable quantitative traits. It was generally believed that the formation, development and individual differences of these traits are influenced by multiple genes which role in the process of neural information transfer and neural development in central nervous system. A large number of previous studies on the relationship between neurotransmitters, receptors and enzymes and human mental activities suggested that some genes encoding transmitters, receptors, transporters and enzymes in dopamine, glutamate and 5-HT neurotransmitter systems may inflence on human cognitions, especially on some specific functions related to prefrontal cortex. To verificate this view,11 genes (DBH, MAOA, COMT, DAT, DRD2, DRD3, THP2,5-HT2A,5-HT6, GRM1 and GRIN2B) in dopamine,5-HT and glutamate neurotransmitter systems were selected and a population-based study was performed to explore the relationship of the 15 functional variants in the genes and executive functions, working memory and spatial cognitive abilities in a over 700 young healthy freshmen population by the behavioral genomics method.The results of the present study were summarized as follows:(1) THP2,5-HT6, MAOA and 5-HT2A were associated with inhibition of executive functions. The information processing speed of inhibition was influenced by 5-HT6 and MAO A while the information processing accuracy of it was influenced by THP2 and 5-HT2A. THP2,5-HT6 and MAOA had independent main effects on inhibition and 5-HT2A had a significant effect on it when the gene combinated with others. We also found DBH and DAT had independent main effects on shifting and played roles in information processing speed of it. Another, one of the results indicated that MAOA was associated updating in males. (2)5-HT2A, GRIN2B, GRM1, DAT, COMT, BDNF and DRD2 were associated with spatial working memory while DRD2, GRM1, DAT, COMT were associated with digital working memory. As a result,5-HT2A, GRIN2B, GRM1 and DAT had independent main effects on spatial working memory while COMT, BDNF and DRD2 had significant combinated effects on it. DRD2 and GRM1 had independent main effects on in digital working memory while DAT and COMT had significant combinated effects on it. Furthermore, we also found the information processing speed of working memory was influenced by DAT,5-HT2A, GRM1 and GRIN2B and the working memory capacity was influenced by GRM1, COMT, BDNF and DRD2 when we considered the different effects of those gene on working memory. (3)In the study, we detected that 5-HT2A had an independent main effect on building block inosculation, picture detection and mental rotation-3D, and DBH had an independent main effect on associated with building block inosculation.The present study provided a further surport that central executive functions, working memory and spatial cognitive abilities are influnced by some genes encoding receptors and enzymes in dopamine,5-serotonin and glutamate neurotransmitter systems. THP2,5-HT6, MAOA, DBH and DAT have independent main effects on central executive functions.5-HT2A, GRIN2B, GRM1, DRD2 and DAT have independent main effects on working memory.5-HT2A and DBH have independent main effects on spatial cognitive abilities.