The D2 Dopamine Receptor (DRD2) Gene and Family Stress; Interactive Effects on Cognitive Functions in Children

1 January 1997

journal article
Published by Springer Nature in Behavior Genetics

Vol. 27 (1) , 33-43
https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1025611208475

Abstract

TaqI A D₂ dopamine receptor (DRD2) alleles, family stress, and cognitive markers, including visuospatial ability (Benton's Line Orientation) and event-related potentials (P300 amplitude and latency), were obtained in preadolescent boys of alcoholic and nonalcoholic fathers. In the presence of the DRD2 minor allele (A1⁺), the Family Stress score negatively correlated with the Line Orientation score and P300 amplitude. No significant correlations were found in boys lacking this allele (A1⁻). The interaction of the A1⁺ allele and the Family Stress score produced significant regression coefficients for both Line Orientation score (p = .002) and P300 amplitude (p = .04). Together, these two cognitive markers account for 37% of the variance in the Family Stress score of 47 A1 allele boys (p = .0002) but less than 1% in 71 A1⁻ allele boys (p > .9). This provides the first evidence of a specific gene–environment interaction involving human cognitive functioning.

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