Effect of the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism on Spatial and Temporal Working Memory

Student: Beliaeva Valeriia

Educational Programme: Cognitive Sciences and Technologies: From Neuron to Cognition (Master)

Year of Graduation: 2018

Imaging studies indicated that the same frontoparietal regions support spatial and temporal working memory (WM), although there are data suggesting that they are distinct processes. We tested this idea using eye tracker and collecting data from subjects, who were genotyped for the BDNF val66met polymorphism (16 val/val and 16 met carriers). Polymorphism is linked with reduced volume and different activation patterns of prefrontal and hippocampal regions. WM type significantly influenced reaction time and eye movement strategies during encoding and maintenance. Met carriers performed differently on spatial trials. These results support the idea that temporal and spatial WM are distinct processes and may have different neural underpinnings

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