The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism modulates the generalization of cued fear responses to a novel context.

ABSTRACT: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a crucial role in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. The human functional single-nucleotide BDNF rs6265 (Val66Met) polymorphism has been found to be associated with alteration in neural BDNF release and function correlating with altered emotional behavior. Here, we investigated for the first time the hypothesis that this polymorphism in humans modulates the context dependency of conditioned fear responses. Applying a new paradigm examining generalization of cued fear across contexts, 70 participants stratified for BDNF Val66Met polymorphism were guided through two virtual offices (context) in which briefly illuminated blue and yellow lights served as cues. In the fear context, one light (conditioned stimulus, CS+) bu

SUBMITTER: Muhlberger A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3957113 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature