Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Soliman F, Glatt C, Bath K, Levita L, Jones R, Pattwell S, Jing D, Tottenham N, Amso D, Somerville L, Voss H, Glover G, Ballon D, Liston C, Teslovich T, Van Kempen T, Lee F, Casey B
Journal Science
Volume 327
Issue 5967
Pagination 863-6
Date Published 01/14/2010
ISSN 1095-9203
Keywords Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Conditioning, Classical, Extinction, Psychological, Fear, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Abstract Mouse models are useful for studying genes involved in behavior, but whether they are relevant to human behavior is unclear. Here, we identified parallel phenotypes in mice and humans resulting from a common single-nucleotide polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, which is involved in anxiety-related behavior. An inbred genetic knock-in mouse strain expressing the variant BDNF recapitulated the phenotypic effects of the human polymorphism. Both were impaired in extinguishing a conditioned fear response, which was paralleled by atypical frontoamygdala activity in humans. Thus, this variant BDNF allele may play a role in anxiety disorders showing impaired learning of cues that signal safety versus threat and in the efficacy of treatments that rely on extinction mechanisms, such as exposure therapy.
DOI 10.1126/science.1181886
PubMed ID 20075215
PubMed Central ID PMC2829261
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