biostudies-literaturede Quervain DJSwiss National Science FoundationEuropean Commission FP78746-51https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3365172biostudies-literatureUnknown109(22)Strong memory of a traumatic event is thought to contribute to the development and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, a genetic predisposition to build strong memories could lead to increased risk for PTSD after a traumatic event. Here we show that genetic variability of the gene encoding PKCα (PRKCA) was associated with memory capacity--including aversive memory--in nontraumatized subjects of European descent. This finding was replicated in an independent sample of nontraumatized subjects, who additionally underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). fMRI analysis revealed PRKCA genotype-dependent brain activation differences during successful encoding of aversive information. Further, the identified genetic variant was also related to traumatic memoryProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaPKCα is genetically linked to memory capacity in healthy subjects and to risk for posttraumatic stress disorder in genocide survivors.PMC3365172FP7_242257122691Ertl VGschwind LAerni ARasch BStetak AAckermann SKlarhofer MKolassa ITHieber PLuechinger RScheffler KBoesiger PElbert TDemougin PVogler CPapassotiropoulos AStippich CHuynh KDVukojevic VHadziselimovic NHanser ESpalek KHeck Ade Quervain DJfalsePKCα is genetically linked to memory capacity in healthy subjects and to risk for posttraumatic stress disorder in genocide survivors.Strong memory of a traumatic event is thought to contribute to the development and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, a genetic predisposition to build strong memories could lead to increased risk for PTSD after a traumatic event. Here we show that genetic variability of the gene encoding PKCα (PRKCA) was associated with memory capacity--including aversive memory--in nontraumatized subjects of European descent. This finding was replicated in an independent sample of nontraumatized subjects, who additionally underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). fMRI analysis revealed PRKCA genotype-dependent brain activation differences during successful encoding of aversive information. Further, the identified genetic variant was also related to traumatic memory2012-01-01T00:00:00Z2012 May2026-05-01T23:59:06.693Z2026-04-07T17:26:49.492ZS-EPMC33651722258610610.1073/pnas.1200857109