Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir2.3

Title: A cognitive phenotype for a polymorphism in the nicotinic receptor gene CHRNA4.

Authors: P M Greenwood, Raja Parasuraman, Thomas Espeseth

Journal, date & volume: Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2012 Apr , 36, 1331-41

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22373960

Abstract
Drawing on converging behavioral, electrophysiological, and imaging evidence, we advance an hypothesis for a cognitive phenotype of a SNP in the CHRNA4 gene encoding the α(4) subunit of α(4)β(2) nicotinic receptors. First, we review evidence that visuospatial attention can be decomposed into several component processes. Secondly, we consider evidence that one component, redirection of attention, is modulated by the nicotinic cholinergic system. Third, we review evidence that nicotinic stimulation exerts effects at the network level. Fourth, we consider evidence that normal variation in this SNP exerts nicotine-like modulatory effects on visuospatial attention. Fifth, we hypothesize that the cognitive phenotype of the CHRNA4 rs1044396 SNP is characterized by greater ability of T allele carriers to preferentially process events in the attentional focus compared to events outside the attentional focus. Finally, we consider effects of the CHNRA4 rs1044396 SNP on brain activity and cognition in light of our hypothesized cognitive phenotype. This hypothesis makes an important contribution to the development of cognitive phenomics by arguing for a cognitive phenotype of CHRNA4.