2-120 - Genetics of Differential Susceptibility: Investigating Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Environmental Sensitivity

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

According to the framework of Differential Susceptibility (Belsky & Pluess, 2009) people differ substantially in their sensitivity to contextual factors, with some individuals being more sensitive to environmental influences than others. Such environmental sensitivity predicts not only increased negative reactivity to adverse contexts but also higher propensity to benefit from nurturing features of positive environments. Importantly, variation in environmental sensitivity is proposed to have a genetic basis. This proposition is supported by a large number of gene-environment interaction studies, which show that certain genetic variants interact with environmental factors to influence outcomes in a for-better-and-for-worse manner. However, only few studies to date have examined the genetic architecture of environmental sensitivity using methods and approaches that go beyond the study of single candidate genes. This symposium features four studies that applied more recent methodology in order to investigate the genetics of environmental sensitivity.
The first paper presents findings on the heritability of trait-like environmental sensitivity as well as first results of a whole-genome analysis. The second paper reports results of an experimental study aimed at investigating individual differences, as a function of candidate polygenic scores, in three emotional systems hypothesized to play a role in environmental sensitivity. The third paper examines whether gene expression of 12 established sensitivity gene moderates the effect of socio-demographic risk on problem behavior, featuring a novel “gene expression-X-environment” interaction approach. Finally, the fourth paper reports new findings on the polygenic moderation of cumulative environmental quality on well-being across the life course in a large cohort study.

Sub Unit

• Biology and Neuroscience

Chairs

• Elham Assary, Queen Mary, University of London

• Michael Pluess, Queen Mary University of London

Individual Presentations

• Individual Differences in Environmental Sensitivity: Twin Heritability to Genetic Polymorphisms - Presenting Author: Elham Assary, Queen Mary, University of London; Helena M.S. Zavos, King's College London; Robert Keers, Queen Mary University of London; Eva Krapohl, King’s College London; Michael Pluess, Queen Mary University of London

• Why so Sensitive? Sources of Variability in Responsiveness to Emotional Experience - Presenting Author: Sarah Moore, University of British Columbia

• Environmental Sensitivity to Socio-demographic Risk: Identifying Gene Expression-by-Environment Interactions - Presenting Author: Eric Lee Thibodeau, University of British Columbia; Madelyn Labella, University of Minnesota; Christopher Desjardins, University of Minnesota; Ann Masten, University of Minnesota; Andrew Barnes, University of Minnesota

• Genetic Moderation of Cumulative Environmental Quality in Childhood on Adult Depression and Well-Being - Presenting Author: Robert Keers, Queen Mary University of London; Michael Pluess, Queen Mary University of London