BDNF Val(66)Met Polymorphism Influences Visuomotor Associative Learning and the Sensitivity to Action Observation

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dc.contributor.authorTaschereau-Dumouchel, Vincenten
dc.contributor.authorHétu, Sébastienen
dc.contributor.authorMichon, Pierre-Emmanuelen
dc.contributor.authorVachon-Presseau, Etienneen
dc.contributor.authorMassicotte, Elsaen
dc.contributor.authorDe Beaumont, Louisen
dc.contributor.authorFecteau, Shirleyen
dc.contributor.authorPoirier, Judesen
dc.contributor.authorMercier, Catherineen
dc.contributor.authorChagnon, Yvon C.en
dc.contributor.authorJackson, Philip L.en
dc.date.accessioned2019-01-22T18:54:43Zen
dc.date.available2019-01-22T18:54:43Zen
dc.date.issued2016-10-05en
dc.description.abstractMotor representations in the human mirror neuron system are tuned to respond to specific observed actions. This ability is widely believed to be influenced by genetic factors, but no study has reported a genetic variant affecting this system so far. One possibility is that genetic variants might interact with visuomotor associative learning to configure the system to respond to novel observed actions. In this perspective, we conducted a candidate gene study on the Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val(66)Met polymorphism, a genetic variant linked to motor learning in regions of the mirror neuron system, and tested the effect of this polymorphism on motor facilitation and visuomotor associative learning. In a single-pulse TMS study carried on 16 Met (Val/Met and Met/Met) and 16 Val/Val participants selected from a large pool of healthy volunteers, Met participants showed significantly less muscle-specific corticospinal sensitivity during action observation, as well as reduced visuomotor associative learning, compared to Val homozygotes. These results are the first evidence of a genetic variant tuning sensitivity to action observation and bring to light the importance of considering the intricate relation between genetics and associative learning in order to further understand the origin and function of the human mirror neuron system.en
dc.description.notesThis work was supported by grants from the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and from the Quebec Bio-Imaging Network (QBIN). Vincent Taschereau-Dumouchel was supported by scholarships from the NSERC, the Centre thematique de recherche en neurosciences and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Sebastien Hetu was supported by scholarship from the Fond de recherche Quebec - Sante (FRQS) and CIHR. Philip L. Jackson and Catherine Mercier were supported by New Investigator Awards from the CIHR and Chercheur-Boursier Senior Awards from the FRQS. The authors declare no conflict of interest. We thank Michel-Pierre Coll, Mathieu Gregoire and professor Tim Welsh of the University of Toronto, for stimulating discussions on this topic.en
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC); Quebec Bio-Imaging Network (QBIN); NSERC; Centre thematique de recherche en neurosciences; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Fond de recherche Quebec - Sante (FRQS); New Investigator Awards from CIHR; Chercheur-Boursier Senior Awards from FRQSen
dc.format.extent10en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1038/srep34907en
dc.identifier.issn2045-2322en
dc.identifier.other34907en
dc.identifier.pmid27703276en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/86833en
dc.identifier.volume6en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherSpringer Natureen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subjectactivity-dependent secretionen
dc.subjectvisual-cortexen
dc.subjectval66met polymorphismen
dc.subjectmotor facilitationen
dc.subjectmirror neuronsen
dc.subjectcritical-perioden
dc.subjectplasticityen
dc.subjectstimulationen
dc.subjectinhibitionen
dc.subjectSimulationen
dc.titleBDNF Val(66)Met Polymorphism Influences Visuomotor Associative Learning and the Sensitivity to Action Observationen
dc.title.serialScientific Reportsen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten

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Destination Area: Adaptive Brain and Behavior (ABB)