Читать книгу The Handy Psychology Answer Book - Lisa J. Cohen - Страница 216

In recent years, there has been an explosion in our ability to study the impact of specific genes. Since the entire human genome was decoded in the early 2000s, our capacity to unlock the secrets of our genes has greatly expanded. Most genetic studies are called linkage studies. This means that scientists attempt to link a specific behavioral trait, condition or abnormality to an altered form of a specific gene, called a candidate gene. The different varieties of a specific gene are called polymorphisms. Considerable research has investigated genetic polymorphisms that affect key neurotransmitters related to many psychological processes and psychiatric disorders. More specifically, multiple polymorphisms have been linked to the brain’s processing of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters are known to play important roles in psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, and attention deficit disorder.