BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Influences Motor System Function in the Human Brain

McHughen, S. A.; Rodriguez, P. F.; Kleim, J. A.; Kleim, E. D.; Marchal Crespo, Laura; Procaccio, V.; Cramer, S. C. (2010). BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Influences Motor System Function in the Human Brain. Cerebral cortex, 20(5), pp. 1254-1262. Oxford University Press 10.1093/cercor/bhp189

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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is important to brain functions such as plasticity and repair. A single nucleotide polymorphism for this growth factor, val66met, is common and associated with decreased activity-dependent BDNF release. The current study evaluated the effects of this polymorphism in relation to human brain motor system function, short-term plasticity, and learning. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning during right index finger movement (n = 24) identified activation in a broad sensorimotor network. However, subjects with the polymorphism showed smaller activation volume within several brain regions as compared with subjects without the polymorphism. Repeat fMRI after 25 min of right index finger training found that the 2 genotype groups modulated brain activation differently. In several brain regions, subjects with the polymorphism showed greater activation volume reduction, whereas subjects without the polymorphism showed greater activation volume expansion. On a driving-based motor learning task (independent cohort, n = 29), subjects with the polymorphism showed greater error during short-term learning and poorer retention over 4 days, relative to subjects without the polymorphism. The presence of this BDNF polymorphism is associated with differences in brain motor system function, altered short-term plasticity, and greater error in short-term motor learning. The broader implications of these findings are considered.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation
10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation

UniBE Contributor:

Marchal Crespo, Laura

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1047-3211

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

Language:

English

Submitter:

Angela Amira Botros

Date Deposited:

14 Jun 2018 16:20

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:14

Publisher DOI:

10.1093/cercor/bhp189

PubMed ID:

19745020

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.117029

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/117029

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