生物谷2009年11月1日訊：有人似乎天生就是個(gè)“駕駛高手”，而有的人卻對(duì)開(kāi)車(chē)怎么也沒(méi)感覺(jué),。美國(guó)一項(xiàng)新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，一種基因變異可能與人的駕駛水平有關(guān)聯(lián)。
美國(guó)加利福尼亞大學(xué)歐文分校研究人員在新一期《大腦皮層》雜志上介紹說(shuō),，他們讓29名志愿者進(jìn)行模擬駕駛技能測(cè)試。結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),，其中7名帶有某一特定基因變異的人要比其他人的得分低20％,。4天后再進(jìn)行測(cè)試，結(jié)果依然如此,。
參與研究的史蒂文·克拉默說(shuō),，有這種基因變異的人在駕駛過(guò)程中出錯(cuò)更多,，而且隨著時(shí)間的推移，他們當(dāng)初所學(xué)的駕駛技能忘得也比其他人多,。
據(jù)研究人員介紹,，該基因變異后會(huì)降低人體內(nèi)某種蛋白質(zhì)的水平，而這種蛋白質(zhì)能夠幫助協(xié)調(diào)大腦細(xì)胞之間的通信聯(lián)絡(luò),，從而提高記憶力,。
早前也有研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，有這種基因變異的人的日常認(rèn)知,、判斷等行為能夠調(diào)動(dòng)的大腦活躍區(qū)域要小于常人,。
不過(guò)，研究人員也指出,，這種基因發(fā)生變異也不全是壞事兒,。比如在患有帕金森氏癥等退行性疾病的人群中，這一基因變異可以減緩腦力衰退,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Cerebral Cortex, doi:10.1093/cercor/bhp189
BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Influences Motor System Function in the Human Brain
Stephanie A. McHughen1, Paul F. Rodriguez2, Jeffrey A. Kleim3, Erin D. Kleim3, Laura Marchal Crespo4, Vincent Procaccio5 and Steven C. Cramer1,6
1 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA, 2 Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA, 3 Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Hospital, Gainesville, FL 32610-0244, USA, 4 Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA, 5 Department of Pediatrics (Human Genetics Division and Metabolism), University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA, 6 Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is important to brain functions such as plasticity and repair. A single nucleotide polymorphism for this growth factor, val66met, is common and associated with decreased activity-dependent BDNF release. The current study evaluated the effects of this polymorphism in relation to human brain motor system function, short-term plasticity, and learning. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning during right index finger movement (n = 24) identified activation in a broad sensorimotor network. However, subjects with the polymorphism showed smaller activation volume within several brain regions as compared with subjects without the polymorphism. Repeat fMRI after 25 min of right index finger training found that the 2 genotype groups modulated brain activation differently. In several brain regions, subjects with the polymorphism showed greater activation volume reduction, whereas subjects without the polymorphism showed greater activation volume expansion. On a driving-based motor learning task (independent cohort, n = 29), subjects with the polymorphism showed greater error during short-term learning and poorer retention over 4 days, relative to subjects without the polymorphism. The presence of this BDNF polymorphism is associated with differences in brain motor system function, altered short-term plasticity, and greater error in short-term motor learning. The broader implications of these findings are considered.
