Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in learning, memory, and brain plasticity. Humans with a val66met polymorphism in the BDNF gene have reduced levels of BDNF and alterations in motor learning and short-term cortical plasticity. In the current study, we sought to further explore the role of BDNF in motor learning by testing human subjects on a visuomotor adaptation task. In experiment 1, 21 subjects with the polymorphism (val/met) and 21 matched controls (val/val) were tested during learning, short-term retention (45 min), long-term retention (24 h), and de-adaptation of a 60° visuomotor deviation. We measured both mean error as well as rate of adaptation during each session. There was no difference in mean error between groups; however, val/met subjects had a reduced rate of adaptation during learning as well as during long-term retention, but not short-term retention or de-adaptation. In experiment 2, 12 val/met and 12 val/val subjects were tested on a larger 80° deviation, revealing a more pronounced difference in mean error during adaptation than the 60° deviation. These results suggest that BDNF may play an important role in visuomotor adaptive processes in the human.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 43-50 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Experimental Brain Research |
Volume | 223 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2012 |
Keywords
- Adaptation, Physiological
- Amino Acid Substitution
- Analysis of Variance
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
- Data Interpretation, Statistical
- Female
- Genotype
- Humans
- Learning
- Male
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Psychomotor Performance
- Young Adult
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't