EAGER: Linking lynx gene variations to inter-individual differences in cognitive function

个体的认知能力和创造能力差别很大。自然发生的遗传变异被认为是造成这些差异的重要原因。研究人员将评估一个基因家族（猞猁基因）中自然发生的变异与人类认知和情感功能的关系。山猫基因变异对小鼠脑功能和认知情绪行为的影响这个探索性项目解决了猞猁基因和人类行为之间的联系。研究结果可以为治疗认知障碍（如与阿尔茨海默病相关的认知障碍）或脑损伤后观察的新治疗方法的开发提供信息。该项目可以进一步揭示遗传因素在创造力和艺术能力以及焦虑症中的作用。这反过来又可以通过为精神障碍提供神经生物学基础来帮助他们去污名化，本科生将参与科学研究过程的每一步。研究人员致力于增加女性和代表性不足的少数民族在STEM领域的代表性，并将相应地协调招聘活动。候选基因已在小鼠模型中确定，这些基因调节神经元可塑性并影响认知和情绪行为。该项目旨在测试lynx1和lynx2基因的自然变异与人类认知和情感功能的个体差异之间的关系。大量个体将被筛选单核苷酸多态性（SNPs），并在各种认知和控制措施上进行测试，以开发这些基因突变的个体的独特认知概况。通过比较具有和不具有snp的个体在厌恶条件反射和记忆更新范式中的表现，对恐惧学习和记忆更新的预测差异进行检验。该项目是第一个评估猞猁基因变异与人类认知和情感功能之间关系的项目，因此是探索性的，但有可能揭示影响复杂人类认知的重要生物学途径。

Individuals differ greatly in their cognitive and creative abilities. Naturally occurring genetic variations are assumed to account for a significant proportion of these differences. The investigators will assess how naturally occurring variations in one gene family, the lynx genes, relate to cognitive and emotional functions in humans. Lynx gene variations alter brain function and cognitive and emotional behavior in mice model; this exploratory project addresses the link between lynx gene and behavior in humans. Results could inform the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cognitive impairments, such as those associated with Alzheimer's Disease, or observed after brain injury. The project could furthermore uncover the role of genetic factors for creative and artistic abilities and anxiety disorders. This in turn could help destigmatize mental disorders by providing a neurobiological basis for them and undergraduate students will be involved in every step of the scientific research process. The researchers are committed to increasing the representation of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields and will coordinate recruitment activities accordingly. Candidate genes have been identified in mouse models that regulate neuronal plasticity and influence cognitive and emotional behavior. This project aims to test how naturally occurring variations in these genes, lynx1 and lynx2, relate to inter-individual differences in cognitive and emotional functions in humans. A large number of individuals will be screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and tested on a variety of cognitive and control measures in order to develop unique cognitive profiles of individuals harboring mutations in these genes. Predicted differences in fear learning and memory updating will be tested by comparing performance of individuals with and without SNPs in aversive conditioning and memory updating paradigms. The project is the first one to assess how lynx gene variations relate to cognitive and emotional functions in humans, and is therefore exploratory, but has the potential to uncover important biological pathways impinging on complex human cognition.