Genetics

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12213/6531

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Browsing Genetics by Author "Mohammad M. Herzallah"

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    Dopamine Genetic Scores Modulate Positive Reinforcement Learning in Healthy Undergraduates
    (Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2022-05-11) Yasmin Arda; Anfal A. Abu Hilal; Mohammad M. Herzallah
    Background: Dopamine has been implicated in modulating reinforcement learning from positive and negative feedback. Enhanced dopamine levels are linked to better learning from positive feedback, whereas decreased dopamine mediates learning from negative feedback. Naturally-occurring variations in dopamine genes contribute to individual differences in reinforcement learning. Dopamine exerts its actions via proteins located pre- (D2 receptors), within- (transporter), and post-synaptically (D1 and D2 receptors) to regulate dopaminergic function.
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    The Effects of Naturally-Occurring Interactions of Dopamine Vs. Serotonin Levels on Reinforcement Learning in Healthy Individuals
    (Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2022-05-11) Haneen H. Sharabati; Mohammad M. Herzallah
    Background: The neuromodulators dopamine and serotonin play key roles in reinforcement learning. While dopamine modulates positive feedback processing, serotonin facilitates aversive learning and behavioral inhibition. The dopamine transporter (DAT), coded by the DAT1 gene, regulates synaptic dopamine levels in the brain is. DAT1 exhibits a naturally-occurring variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism (VNTR) in its 3’ untranslated region (3’-UTR). Similarly, the serotonin transporter (SERT) controls synaptic serotonin levels in the brain. SERT is coded by the SLC6A4 gene that has a polyadenylation polymorphism influencing the balance of two polyadenylation forms of SERT in the brain (STPP).