Association of DISC1, BDNF, and COMT polymorphisms with exploratory eye movement of schizophrenia in a Chinese Han population

Background: Previous studies suggested that exploratory eye movement (EEM) dysfunction appears to be a biological marker specific to schizophrenia, with an unknown molecular mechanism. Genetic studies indicate that disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) genes might be implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia, but not in all populations.
Objectives: The present study aimed to explore associations between these candidate genes and EEM endophenotypes for schizophrenia in a Chinese Han population.
Methods: EEM recordings were examined in 139 patients with schizophrenia and 143 healthy control participants.
Results: All five EEM parameters, responsive search score, cognitive search score, number of eye fixations, total eye scanning length, and mean eye scanning length, of schizophrenic patients differed significantly from those of healthy controls (P

Source: Psychiatric Genetics - October 26, 2016 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research