Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Genetic Influence On The Working Memory Circuitry: Behavior, Structure, Function And Extensions To Illness, Katherine H. Karlsgodt, Peter Bachman, Anderson M. Winkler, Carrie E. Bearden, David C. Glahn

School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Working memory is a highly heritable complex cognitive trait that is critical for a number of higher-level functions. However, the neural substrates of this behavioral phenotype are intricate and it is unknown through what precise biological mechanism variation in working memory is transmitted. In this review we explore different functional and structural components of the working memory circuitry, and the degree to which each of them is contributed to by genetic factors. Specifically, we consider dopaminergic function, glutamatergic function, white matter integrity and gray matter structure all of which provide potential mechanisms for the inheritance of working memory deficits. In …