BDNF Val⁶⁶Met Polymorphism Influences Visuomotor Associative Learning and the Sensitivity to Action Observation.

ABSTRACT: Motor representations in the human mirror neuron system are tuned to respond to specific observed actions. This ability is widely believed to be influenced by genetic factors, but no study has reported a genetic variant affecting this system so far. One possibility is that genetic variants might interact with visuomotor associative learning to configure the system to respond to novel observed actions. In this perspective, we conducted a candidate gene study on the Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism, a genetic variant linked to motor learning in regions of the mirror neuron system, and tested the effect of this polymorphism on motor facilitation and visuomotor associative learning. In a single-pulse TMS study carried on 16 Met (Val/Met and Met/Met) and 16 Val/Val

SUBMITTER: Taschereau-Dumouchel V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5050503 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature