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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive

Common Genetic Effects on Variation in Impulsivity and Activity in Mice

Anthony R. Isles, Trevor Humby, Eurof Walters and Lawrence S. Wilkinson
Journal of Neuroscience 28 July 2004, 24 (30) 6733-6740; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1650-04.2004
Anthony R. Isles
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Trevor Humby
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Eurof Walters
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Lawrence S. Wilkinson
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Abstract

Impulsivity is a complex psychological construct that impacts on behavioral predispositions in the normal range and has been shown to have a genetic element through the examination of hereditary patterns of abnormal conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. In this study, we took advantage of the isogenic nature of inbred strains of mice to determine the contribution of genes to impulsive behaviors by examining the performance of four separate mouse strains in a novel murine delayed-reinforcement paradigm, during which the animals had to choose between rewards that were relatively small but available immediately and larger but progressively delayed rewards. To control for maternal effects, all the mice were cross-fostered to a common strain immediately after birth. Under these conditions, we found significant differences between the strains on behaviors indexing impulsive choice and on independent measures of locomotor activity, which subsequent heritability analysis showed could be related, in part, to genetic effects. Moreover, the two aspects of behavior were found to co-vary, with the more active animals also displaying more impulsive behavior. This was not attributable to mundane confounds related to individual task requirements but instead indicated the existence of common genetic factors influencing variation in both impulsivity and locomotor activity. The data are discussed in terms of the coexistence of impulsivity and hyperactivity, interactions between environmental and genetic effects, and possible candidate genes.

  • impulsivity
  • activity
  • heritability
  • delayed reinforcement
  • mice
  • AD/HD
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The Journal of Neuroscience: 24 (30)
Journal of Neuroscience
Vol. 24, Issue 30
28 Jul 2004
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Common Genetic Effects on Variation in Impulsivity and Activity in Mice
Anthony R. Isles, Trevor Humby, Eurof Walters, Lawrence S. Wilkinson
Journal of Neuroscience 28 July 2004, 24 (30) 6733-6740; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1650-04.2004

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Common Genetic Effects on Variation in Impulsivity and Activity in Mice
Anthony R. Isles, Trevor Humby, Eurof Walters, Lawrence S. Wilkinson
Journal of Neuroscience 28 July 2004, 24 (30) 6733-6740; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1650-04.2004
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