http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-12-gene-linked-asperger-syndrome-empathy.html

(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have confirmed that variations in a particular gene play a key role in the autism spectrum condition known as Asperger Syndrome. They have also found that variations in the same gene are also linked to differences in empathy levels in the general population.

A study to be published later this month in the journal Molecular Autism confirms previous research that people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are more likely to carry specific variations in a particular gene. More strikingly, the study supports existing findings that the same gene is also linked to how much empathy typically shown by individuals in the general population.

The research was carried out by a team of researchers led by Professor Baron-Cohen at the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University. Asperger Syndrome is an autism spectrum condition. The researchers looked for sequence variations (called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) in the gene known as GABRB3 in a total of 530 adults – 118 people diagnosed with AS and 412 people without a diagnosis.

The team found that certain SNPs in GABRB3 were significantly more common in people with AS. They also discovered that additional genetic variations in the same gene were linked to scores on an empathy measure called the Empathy Quotient (EQ) in the general population.

AS is diagnosed when a person struggles with social relationships and communication, and shows unusually narrow interests and resistance to change, but has good intelligence and language skills. Most genetic studies of autistic spectrum conditions treat autism as if they are all very similar, whereas in reality there is considerable variation (e.g., in language level and intellectual ability).

Rather than studying people on the autistic condition spectrum, this new study looked only people with AS, as a well-defined subgroup of individuals within this range. The researchers examined the gene GABRB3 which regulates the functioning of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and which contains a number of SNPs that vary across the population.

The volunteers were tested for 45 SNPs within this key gene. The team had previously found that SNPs in this gene were more common in adults with AS and also showed a relationship with empathy levels and tactile sensitivity (how sensitive people are to being touched) in the general population.

Testing a new sample of volunteers who had not taken part in previous studies, the researchers found that three of the SNPs were again more common in adults with AS, and two different SNPs in the same gene were again related to empathy levels in the general population, confirming that the gene is involved in autism spectrum conditions.

Professor Baron-Cohen said: “We are excited that this study confirms that variation in GABRB3 is linked not just to AS but to individual differences in empathy in the population. Many candidate genes do not replicate across studies and across different samples, but this genetic finding seems to be a solid result. Research now needs to focus on where this gene is expressed in the brain in autism, and how it interacts with other genetic and non-genetic factors that cause AS.”

The team was co-led by Dr Bhismadev Chakrabarti from the Department of Psychology at Reading University. He commented: “Genes play an important role in autism and Asperger Syndrome. This new study adds to evidence that GABRB3 is a key gene underlying these conditions. This gene is involved in the functioning of a neurotransmitter that regulates excitation and inhibition of nerve cell activity so the research gives us vital additional information about how the brain may develop differently in people with Asperger Syndrome.”

Varun Warrier, who carried out the study as part of his graduate research at Cambridge University, added: “The most important aspect of this research is that it points to common genetic variants in GABRB3 being involved in both AS and in empathy as a dimensional trait. Although GABRB3 is not the only gene to be involved in this condition and in empathy levels, we are confident that we have identified one of the key players. We are following this up by testing how much protein GABRB3 produces in the brain in autism, since a genetic finding of this kind becomes more explanatory when we can also measure its function.”

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More information: “Genetic variation in GABRB3 is associated with Asperger syndrome and multiple endophenotypes relevant to autism.” Varun Warrier, Simon Baron-Cohen and Bhismadev Chakrabarti. Molecular Autism 2013, 4:48 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-48

Deficiencies in empathy can manifest as psychopathy and sociopathy I assume?

Dropbear said:

Deficiencies in empathy can manifest as psychopathy and sociopathy I assume?

Well if on one of your dropbear drops, you missed your target and smashed your brains out. Just because I wouldn’t give a shit, would that make me a psychopath?

PermeateFree said:

Dropbear said:

Deficiencies in empathy can manifest as psychopathy and sociopathy I assume?

Well if on one of your dropbear drops, you missed your target and smashed your brains out. Just because I wouldn’t give a shit, would that make me a psychopath?

no but your keeping his brains as a trophy would……

Dropbear said:

Deficiencies in empathy can manifest as psychopathy and sociopathy I assume?

I am guessing the unusual clustering of neurotransmitters but typical specific concentrated clustering of neurotransmitters for a person with a diagnosis of aspergers might be supported as genetic in origin.

How this is demonstrated within the population for persons outside the parameters of this diagnosis is interesting to me.

The clustering that I am alluding to in this instance is relevant to this research imo.

For example , there seems to be a heavier concentration of neurotransmitters in specific regions of the brain for persons experiencing behavioural symptons matching the diagnosis or aspergers or autism and notable absence of neurotransmitters within other regions of the brain. The absent regions are linked with empathy and other refined social skills sectors of the brain afaicr.

These research findings seems to support why these clustering occur the way they do.

I am also of the view these conditions assists a person with aspergers to have their levels of brilliance in their specific areas of expertise.

we might not have as many brilliant minds without this genetic anomaly. If genetic anomaly is the appropriate wording.

>Deficiencies in empathy can manifest as psychopathy and sociopathy I assume?

How nature rolls dice for the unfolding. As a generalization to say ‘deficiencies’ requires quite a bit of qualification, i’d guess, certainly regards the species of dissemblers.

I’d be cautious regards the emphasis on “empathy”. The apparent ‘indifference’ of someone that may be considered within the criteria of ‘autistic’ (not terms/labels I like to use at all, but apparently people of the modern world can’t think without labelling), may be a lot less ‘aggressive’ and damaging than the indifference of ‘normals’ (cite stanford prison experiments etc).

If “empathy” is more about ease of comprehending (and perhaps respecting) internal mental states (of what goes into them of self and others), and understanding orders of intentionality and such, then maybe “empathy” is the right word. I can’t say.

What’s happening more at the process level regards ‘empathy’ in the broadest terms, and what forces shaped it back through biohistory, including the social environments of ancestors that shaped the biology and biological receptiveness.