AI Article Synopsis
- BDNF is crucial for memory functions and synaptic changes in the brain, particularly in areas like the hippocampus.
- A specific genetic variant (Val66Met) in the BDNF gene is linked to how well people remember information, especially emotionally charged words.
- In a study of healthy young adults, the Val66Met variant was found to significantly affect memory performance for emotional words, while it had no impact on neutral word recall.
Article Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation. A valine (Val) to methionine (Met) substitution in the BDNF gene (Val66Met) has been associated with episodic memory performance. This study aimed at fine-mapping the genomic region harbouring BDNF and the adjacent gene, BDNFOS, in order to identify other possible memory-related gene variants. Healthy young Swiss adults (n=333) underwent a verbal memory free-recall task which used words with both neutral and emotional content. Genetic variability of the BDNF and BDNFOS region was covered by analysing 55 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Among all examined SNPs, the non-synonymous Val66Met SNP rs6265 showed the highest significant level of association with memory performance for words with emotional content. Recall performance for neutral words was unrelated to the analysed SNPs. Our results support a role for the Val66Met BDNF polymorphism in episodic memory and suggest a modulatory influence of emotional valence.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1461145710000519 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Use of Robust Norming to Create a Sensitive Cognitive Summary Score in De Novo Parkinson's Disease: An Illustrative Example.
Mov Disord
January 2025
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Background: Cognitive impairment is common at all stages of Parkinson's disease (PD), but there is no consensus on which neuropsychological tests to use or how to interpret cognitive battery results. A cognitive summary score (CSS) combines the richness of a neuropsychological battery with the simplicity of a single score.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether a CSS created using robust norming can detect early cognitive deficits in de novo, untreated PD.
Scientific Histories of Hippocampal Research: Introduction to the Special Issue.
Hippocampus
January 2025
Cognitive Science Program and Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Numerous scientific advances and discoveries have arisen from research on the hippocampal formation. This special issue provides first-person historical descriptions of these advances and discoveries in hippocampal research, written by those directly involved in the research. This is the first section of a special issue that will also include future articles on this topic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContext familiarity is a third kind of episodic memory distinct from item familiarity and recollection.
iScience
December 2024
Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Psychology, 150 W. University Dr., Melbourne, FL 32905, USA.
Episodic memory is accounted for with two processes: "familiarity" when generally recognizing an item and "recollection" when retrieving the full contextual details bound with the item. We tested a combination of item recognition confidence and source memory, focusing upon three conditions: "item-only hits with source unknown" ('item familiarity'), "low-confidence hits with correct source memory" ('context familiarity'), and "high-confidence hits with correct source memory" ('recollection'). Behaviorally, context familiarity was slower than the others during item recognition, but faster during source memory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCoping Styles as Mediators Between Purpose in Life and Cognitive Function: A Longitudinal Study.
Res Aging
January 2025
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
This study tests associations between purpose in life and coping, and whether coping mediates the association between purpose and cognitive function. Longitudinal data from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study were used to investigate associations between purpose at MIDUS I and coping at MIDUS II ( = 2386). Emotion-focused and problem-focused coping were tested as mediators between purpose and cognitive function (memory, executive function, global cognition) at MIDUS III.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResilience through social connectedness and cognition: Is theory of mind a form of enrichment for older adults?
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
January 2025
Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Objective: Social connectedness is a modifiable lifestyle factor that delays age-related cognitive decline. Using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental approaches, we examined whether theory of mind - inferring what others think or feel - is a potential mechanism underlying this relationship.
Methods: In Study 1, 305 community-dwelling older adults participating in two different, but related, studies completed comprehensive measures of general cognition, theory of mind, and personal social networks.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!