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Title: DRD4 polymorphisms modulate reward positivity and P3a in a gambling task: Exploring a genetic basis for cultural learning
Abstract

Prior work shows that people respond more plastically to environmental influences, including cultural influences, if they carry the 7 or 2‐repeat (7/2R) allelic variant of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4). The 7/2R carriers are thus more likely to endorse the norms and values of their culture. So far, however, mechanisms underlying this moderation of cultural acquisition byDRD4are unclear. To address this gap in knowledge, we tested the hypothesis thatDRD4modulates the processing of reward cues existing in the environment. About 72 young adults, preselected for theirDRD4status, performed a gambling task, while the electroencephalogram was recorded. Principal components of event‐related potentials aligned to the Reward‐Positivity (associated with bottom‐up processing of reward prediction errors) and frontal‐P3 (associated with top‐down attention) were both significantly more positive following gains than following losses. As predicted, the gain‐loss differences were significantly larger for 7/2R carriers than for noncarriers. Also, as predicted, the cultural backgrounds of the participants (East Asian vs. European American) did not moderate the effects ofDRD4. Our findings suggest that the 7/2R variant ofDRD4enhances (a) the detection of reward prediction errors and (b) controlled attention that updates the context for the reward, thereby suggesting one possible mechanism underlying theDRD4× Culture interactions.

 
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NSF-PAR ID:
10456543
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Psychophysiology
Volume:
57
Issue:
10
ISSN:
0048-5772
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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