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Article
Open AccessThe functional −1019C/G HTR1A polymorphism and mechanisms of fear
Serotonin receptor 1A gene (HTR1A) knockout mice show pronounced defensive behaviour and increased fear conditioning to ambiguous conditioned stimuli. Such behaviour is a hallmark of pathological human anxiety, a...
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Article
Open AccessMAOA gene hypomethylation in panic disorder—reversibility of an epigenetic risk pattern by psychotherapy
Epigenetic signatures such as methylation of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene have been found to be altered in panic disorder (PD). Hypothesizing temporal plasticity of epigenetic processes as a mechanism of s...
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Article
Open AccessModulation of defensive reactivity by GLRB allelic variation: converging evidence from an intermediate phenotype approach
Representing a phylogenetically old and very basic mechanism of inhibitory neurotransmission, glycine receptors have been implicated in the modulation of behavioral components underlying defensive responding t...
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Article
Open AccessA functional genetic variation of SLC6A2 repressor hsa-miR-579-3p upregulates sympathetic noradrenergic processes of fear and anxiety
Increased sympathetic noradrenergic signaling is crucially involved in fear and anxiety as defensive states. MicroRNAs regulate dynamic gene expression during synaptic plasticity and genetic variation of micro...