Association of a functional variant of neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene with self-reported impulsiveness, venturesomeness and empathy in male offenders

J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2010 Mar;117(3):321-4. doi: 10.1007/s00702-009-0352-4. Epub 2009 Dec 8.

Abstract

It has been shown that a functional promoter dinucleotide repeat length variation of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS1 Ex1f-VNTR) is associated with impulsivity-related behavioral phenotypes. In this study, the Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire (IVE-7) was administered to 182 male offenders to prove the hypothesis that NOS1 Ex1f-VNTR is associated with self-reported impulsiveness, venturesomeness and empathy. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANCOVA) revealed a significant multivariate effect of NOS1 Ex1f-VNTR genotype on IVE-7 measures (P = 0.0006). The effect was more pronounced regarding impulsiveness and empathy (P = 0.0052 and P = 0.0036, respectively) as compared with venturesomeness, which was only of borderline significance. The findings give additional evidence that NOS-I is involved in the regulation of impulsive personality traits and support the notion that the NOS1 gene takes part in the regulation of social behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics
  • Criminals*
  • Empathy / genetics*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / genetics*
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / genetics*
  • Personality / genetics*
  • Personality Disorders / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Psychometrics
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Violence
  • White People / genetics

Substances

  • NOS1 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I