pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The influence of sex-linked genetic mechanisms on attention and impulsivity - PubMed

Review

The influence of sex-linked genetic mechanisms on attention and impulsivity

Simon Trent et al. Biol Psychol. 2012 Jan.

Abstract

It is now generally agreed that there are inherent sex differences in healthy individuals across a number of neurobiological domains (including brain structure, neurochemistry, and cognition). Moreover, there is a burgeoning body of evidence highlighting sex differences within neuropsychiatric populations (in terms of the rates of incidence, clinical features/progression, neurobiology and pathology). Here, we consider the extent to which attention and impulsivity are sexually dimorphic in healthy populations and the extent to which sex might modulate the expression of disorders characterised by abnormalities in attention and/or impulsivity such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and addiction. We then discuss general genetic mechanisms that might underlie sex differences in attention and impulsivity before focussing on specific positional and functional candidate sex-linked genes that are likely to influence these cognitive processes. Identifying novel sex-modulated molecular targets should ultimately enable us to develop more effective therapies in disorders associated with attentional/impulsive dysfunction.

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1

The genetic mechanisms that underlie attention and impulsivity in both the healthy and the neuropsychiatric population. The expression of sex linked genes including SRY, STS and MAOA are sexually dimorphic (SRY is only expressed in males and STS has a higher expression in females). As a consequence, sex differences may occur in their neural expression or indirect downstream effects on systemic gonadal hormone levels (via SRY). In turn, sexually dimorphic neurobiological alterations in cognitive-associated brain regions and neurotransmitter pathways such as dopamine, may result in sex specific nuances in attention and impulsive behaviour amongst the healthy population, but also the differences within the neuropsychiatric population.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Abrahams B.S., Geschwind D.H. Advances in autism genetics: on the threshold of a new neurobiology. Nature Reviews Genetics. 2008;9:341–355. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Adler L.A., Faraone S.V., Spencer T.J., Michelson D., Reimherr F.W., Glatt S.J. The reliability and validity of self- and investigator ratings of ADHD in adults. Journal of Attention Disorders. 2008;11:711–719. - PubMed
    1. Alessi S.M., Petry N.M. Pathological gambling severity is associated with impulsivity in a delay discounting procedure. Behavioural Processes. 2003;64:345–354. - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association . American Psychiatric Press; Washington, DC: 1994. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
    1. Andersen S.L., Teicher M.H. Sex differences in dopamine receptors and their relevance to ADHD. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 2000;24:137–141. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances