A QTL on chromosome 3q23 influences processing speed in humans

Authors

Emma E. M. Knowles
Samuel R. Mathias
Josephine Mollon
Amanda Rodrigue
Marinka M. G. Koenis
Thomas D. Dyer, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Harald H. H. Goring, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Joanne E. Curran, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Rene L. Olvera
Ravindranath Duggirala, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Laura Almasy, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
John Blangero, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
David C. Glahn

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2019

Abstract

Processing speed is a psychological construct that refers to the speed with which an individual can perform any cognitive operation. Processing speed correlates strongly with general cognitive ability, declines sharply with age, and is impaired across a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Thus, identifying genes that influence processing speed will likely improve understanding of the genetics of intelligence, biological aging, and the etiologies of numerous disorders. Previous genetics studies of processing speed have relied on simple phenotypes (e.g., mean reaction time) derived from single tasks. This strategy assumes, erroneously, that processing speed is a unitary construct. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the genetic architecture of processing speed by using a multi-dimensional model applied to a battery of cognitive tasks. Linkage and QTL-specific association analyses were performed on the factors from this model. The randomly ascertained sample comprised 1291 Mexican-American individuals from extended pedigrees. We found that performance on all three distinct processing-speed factors (Psychomotor Speed; Sequencing and Shifting and Verbal Fluency) were moderately and significantly heritable. We identified a genome-wide significant QTL on chromosome 3q23 for Psychomotor Speed (LOD = 4.83). Within this locus, we identified a plausible and interesting candidate gene for Psychomotor Speed (Z = 2.90, p = 1.86×10−03).

Comments

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society. Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1111/gbb.12530

Recommended Citation

Knowles, E. E. M., Mathias, S. R., Mollon, J., Rodrigue, A., Koenis, M. M. G., Dyer, T. D., Goring, H. H. H., Curran, J. E., Olvera, R. L., Duggirala, R., Almasy, L., Blangero, J., & Glahn, D. C. (2019). A QTL on chromosome 3q23 influences processing speed in humans. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 18(4), e12530. https://doi.org/10.1111/gbb.12530

Publication Title

Genes, Brain and Behavior

DOI

10.1111/gbb.12530

Academic Level

faculty

Mentor/PI Department

Office of Human Genetics