Dopamine D4 Receptor Exon III Polymorphism, Adverse Life Events and Personality Traits in a Nonclinical German Adult Sample

Reiner I, Spangler G (2010)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2010

Journal

Original Authors: Reiner I., Spangler G.

Publisher: Karger

Book Volume: 63

Pages Range: 52-58

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1159/000322291

Abstract

Personality and temperament embrace a wide area of both psychological and behavioral processes which are also based on disposition. A functional polymorphism in exon III of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has been a highly suspect genetic marker for personality in spite of ambiguous results. The present study aimed to further elucidate the relationship between DRD4, negative life events and personality in a representative nonclinical sample. Hundred sixty-seven Germans completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and the California Adult Q-Sort. A factor analysis revealed 3 factors: emotional stability, social orientation and impulsivity. DNA from buccal cells was genotyped for the DRD4 variable-number tandem-repeat exon III polymorphism with respect to presence versus absence of the DRD4 7-repeat allele. Adverse life events were assessed by means of the Adverse Life Events Scale. Men carrying the DRD4 7-repeat allele were more impulsive than those without. Male 7-repeat carriers were more emotionally instable than others, but only when they experienced a large amount of negative life events. No genotype-personality relationships were found for women. The results indicate gender-specific influences of the DRD4 gene on human behavior and invite researchers to further investigate gene-environment correlations on personality traits. © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

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How to cite

APA:

Reiner, I., & Spangler, G. (2010). Dopamine D4 Receptor Exon III Polymorphism, Adverse Life Events and Personality Traits in a Nonclinical German Adult Sample. Neuropsychobiology, 63(1), 52-58. https://doi.org/10.1159/000322291

MLA:

Reiner, Iris, and Gottfried Spangler. "Dopamine D4 Receptor Exon III Polymorphism, Adverse Life Events and Personality Traits in a Nonclinical German Adult Sample." Neuropsychobiology 63.1 (2010): 52-58.

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