Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

8-30-2011

Abstract

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays an important role in neural plasticity, learning and memory. Due to its relation to neurogenesis, BDNF has been studied with respect to its protective effects against various cognitive dysregulations, including those related to alcohol dependence. Recent evidence suggests that alcohol dependent individuals, in addition to those with a family history of alcoholism, have lower basal levels of BDNF as compared to controls. In adult populations, the Met variant of the Val66Met polymorphism, which results in decreased release of BDNF, has been associated with decreased neural volume as well as increased risk for alcohol problems. Using samples with prolonged alcohol exposure makes it difficult to determine the direction of the relationship between neural volume and drinking behavior. Therefore the current study set out to determine whether a relationship between BDNF, neural volume and drinking behavior could be detected using a sample of adolescents. Since this relationship is well demonstrated using adult samples, it was hypothesized that BDNF genotype would be correlated with drinking behavior among adolescents, and this relationship would be mediated by differences in neural volume. 220 adolescents gave saliva samples, participated in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and completed behavioral measures designed to assess drinking behavior. Although BDNF was not correlated with drinking behavior, other interesting relationships were discovered including an inverse relationship between age and cerebral cortex volume, a positive relationship between accumbens volume and drinking, and distinct findings based on gender.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Yeo, Ron

Second Committee Member

Bryan, Angela

Third Committee Member

Hamilton, Derek

Language

English

Keywords

Alcoholism--Molecular aspects, Alcoholism--Genetic aspects, Neurotrophic functions.

Document Type

Thesis

Download

Share

COinS