Risk-taking behavior in a gambling task associated with variations in the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene: relevance to psychiatric disorders.

ABSTRACT: Decision making, choosing the best option from the possible outcomes, is impaired in many psychiatric conditions including affective disorders. We tested the hypothesis that variations in serotonergic genes (TPH2, TPH1, SLC6A4, HTR1A), which influence serotonin availability, affect choice behavior in a probabilistic gambling task. A population cohort (N=1035) completed a paper-and-pencil gambling task, filled out personality and symptom questionnaires and gave consent for the use of their DNA in a genetic association study. A subgroup of subjects (N=69) also completed a computer version of the task. The gambling task was designed to estimate an individual's tendency to take a risk when choosing between a smaller but more certain 'win' and a larger, less probable one. We genotyped seven hap

SUBMITTER: Juhasz G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3055398 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature