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Variation in the X-linked EFHC2 gene is associated with social cognitive abilities in males.

ABSTRACT: Females outperform males on many social cognitive tasks. X-linked genes may contribute to this sex difference. Males possess one X chromosome, while females possess two X chromosomes. Functional variations in X-linked genes are therefore likely to impact more on males than females. Previous studies of X-monosomic women with Turner syndrome suggest a genetic association with facial fear recognition abilities at Xp11.3, specifically at a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs7055196) within the EFHC2 gene. Based on a strong hypothesis, we investigated an association between variation at SNP rs7055196 and facial fear recognition and theory of mind abilities in males. As predicted, males possessing the G allele had significantly poorer facial fear detection accuracy and theory of mind abilities than males possessing the A allele (with SNP variant accounting for up to 4.6% of variance). Variation in the X-linked EFHC2 gene at SNP rs7055196 is therefore associated with social cognitive abilities in males.

SUBMITTER: Startin CM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4481314 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Variation in the X-linked EFHC2 gene is associated with social cognitive abilities in males.

Startin Carla M CM Fiorentini Chiara C de Haan Michelle M Skuse David H DH

PloS one 20150624 6

Females outperform males on many social cognitive tasks. X-linked genes may contribute to this sex difference. Males possess one X chromosome, while females possess two X chromosomes. Functional variations in X-linked genes are therefore likely to impact more on males than females. Previous studies of X-monosomic women with Turner syndrome suggest a genetic association with facial fear recognition abilities at Xp11.3, specifically at a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs7055196) within the EF ...[more]

PMID: 26107779

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Dataset Information

Variation in the X-linked EFHC2 gene is associated with social cognitive abilities in males.

Publications

Variation in the X-linked EFHC2 gene is associated with social cognitive abilities in males.

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