The influence of NMDA receptor 2B subunit (GRIN2B) on cortical electrical oscillation

Tien-Wen Lee, Younger W-Y Yu, Chen-Jee Hong, Shih-Jen Tsai, Hung-Chi Wu, Tai-Jui Chen

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DOI: 10.4236/wjns.2011.13006                

Abstract

The N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is composed of several subunits. Among them, the N2B is of interest, given its dominance in early develop-ment and its significant impact on neuronal channel functioning and the formation or maintenance of cellular architecture. NMDAR-N2B, also named GRIN2B, has been implicated in broad neuro-psychiatric conditions. However, the genetic impact on cortical oscillation in the human brain is still unclear. This study examined the modulatory ef-fects of a silent mutation C2644T polymorphism on the EEG oscillation. Blood samples were collected and resting state eyes-closed EEG signals were re-corded in 256 young healthy females, stratified into three groups according to genotypes C/C, C/T and T/T. The values of the mean power of 18 electrodes across delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequencies were analyzed. Between-group statistics were determined by ANOVA and independent t-test; and a global trend of regional power was quantified by non-parametric analyses. No significant be-tween-group differences were noticed with the statis-tical threshold after Bonferroni correction. At less conservative threshold of P < 0.01, C/T group had higher regional power at sparse electrode-frequency pairs in posterior brain regions. However, a consis-tent global trend was noticed wherein the C/T group possessed higher EEG powers, regardless of spectral bands. Nonparametric analyses confirmed this ob-servation. Our results implied that the heterozygous group of GRIN2B C2744T was associated with higher neural synchronization during relaxation, which may be relevant to the impact of GRIN2B in early devel-opment and the inverted-U-shaped response in the NMDA system.

Keywords

Electroencephalography (EEG); Power Spectrum; NMDA; Polymorphism

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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