Papers linking genetics,biochemistry,physiology to clinically relevant behaviour

With the completion of the Human Genome Project and the rapid development of associated analytic techniques, coupled with advances in neuroimaging we are on the threshold of substantial advances in tying up the links between genetic factors, consequent neurochemistry and physiology and the role in clinically relevant phenomena. Unraveling these links and the their interactions will provide a new context within which clinicians will work.

On these pages we wish to keep abreast of these developments and to use the hypertext facilities of the wiki to help clarify the complexities involved in cross speciality and multidisciplinary studies.

Genetic, high levels of MAOA have been reported (Caspi et al, 2002) to provide protection from the detrimental effects of being maltreated as childen.

Brain imaging studies by Meyer-Lindenberg et al (2006)found that men who had a genotype leading to low expression of MAOA (now identified as a risk factor for violent behavior)showed reduced functioning in thei anterior cingulate cortex when they tried to inhibit a physical response, and exaggerated amygdala funtioning suggestive of heightened anxiety and fearfulness

Reference

 * Caspi, A. Moffitt, T.E. et al. 2002. Role of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children. Science 297 (Aug. 2):851-854. PMID 12161658