Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetics of Sensation or Novelty Seeking and Criminal Behavior

  • Chapter
The Neurobiology of Criminal Behavior

Part of the book series: Neurobiological Foundation of Aberrant Behaviors ((NFAB,volume 5))

Abstract

Criminality is a complex phenotype and is characterized by a wide spectrum of acts, from non-violent white collar crimes to serial killings. The focus of this review is criminal behavior associated with acts of violence, and we will review the evidence that violent behavior is correlated with heritable personality dimensions, particularly Novelty or Sensation Seeking. For a panoramic view of Sensation Seeking, see Chapter 2 of this volume; Chapter 4 further develops the relationship between genetics and crime.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arai, Y., Hosokawa, T., Fukao, A., Izumi, Y., & Hisamichi, S. (1997). Smoking behaviour and personality: a population-based study in Japan. Addiction, 92, 1023–1033.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asghari, V., Sanyal, S., Buchwaldt, S., Paterson, A., Jovanovic, V., & Van Tol, H.H. (1995). Modulation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels by different human dopamine D4 receptor variants. Journal of Neurochemistry, 65, 1157–1165.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asghari, V., Schoots, O., van Kats, S., Ohara, K., Jovanovic, V., Guan, H.C., Bunzow, J.R., Petronis, A., & Van Tol, H.H. (1994). Dopamine D4 receptor repeat: analysis of different native and mutant forms of the human and rat genes. Molecular Pharmacology, 46, 364–373.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Auerbach, J., Geller, V., Lezer, S., Shinwell, E., Belmaker, R.H., Levine, J., & Ebstein, R. (1999). Dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) and serotonin transporter promoter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms in the determination of temperament in 2-month-old infants. Molecular Psychiatry, 4, 369–373.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Auerbach, J.G., Benjamin, J., Faroy, M., Geller, V., & Ebstein, R. (2001). DRD4 related to infant attention and information processing: a developmental link to ADHD? Psychiatric Genetics, 11, 31–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ball, D., Hill, L., Freeman, B., Eley, T.C., Strelau, J., Riemann, R., Spinath, F.M., Angleitner, A., & Plomin, R. (1997). The serotonin transporter gene and peer-rated neuroticism. Neuroreport, 8, 1301–1304.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, M. (1998). Mapping genes for personality: Is the saga sagging? Molecular Psychiatry, 3, 106–108.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bau, CH., Almeida, S., Costa, F.T., Garcia, C.E., Elias, E.P., Ponso, A.C., Spode, A., & Hutz, M.H. (2001). DRD4 and DAT1 as modifying genes in alcoholism: interaction with novelty seeking on level of alcohol consumption. Molecular Psychiatry, 6, 7–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bau, C.H., Roman, T., Almeida, S., & Hutz, M.H. (1999). Dopamine D4 receptor gene and personality dimensions in Brazilian male alcoholics. Psychiatric Genetics, 9, 139–143.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin, J., Li, L., Patterson, C., Greenberg, B.D., Murphy, D.L., & Hamer, D.H. (1996). Population and familial association between the D4 dopamine receptor gene and measures of Novelty Seeking. Nature Genetics, 12, 81–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin, J., Osher, Y., Kotler, M., Gritsenko, I., Nemanov, L., Belmaker, R.H., & Ebstein, R.P. (2000). Association between tridimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ) traits and three functional polymorphisms: dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), serotonin transporter promoter region (5-HTTLPR) and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT). Molecular Psychiatry, 5, 96–100.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berman, M.E., Tracy, J.I., & Coccaro, E.F. (1997). The serotonin hypothesis of aggression revisited. Clinical Psychology Review, 17, 651–665.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Biederman, J., Wilens, T., Mick, E., Faraone, S.V., Weber, W., Curtis, S., Thornell, A., Pfister, K., Jetton, J.G., & Soriano, J. (1997). Is ADHD a risk factor for psychoactive substance use disorders? Findings from a four-year prospective follow-up study. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescence and Psychiatry, 36, 21–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biederman, J., Wilens, T., Mick, E., Milberger, S., Spencer, T.J., & Faraone, S.V. (1995). Psychoactive substance use disorders in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): effects of ADHD and psychiatric comorbidity. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 1652–1658.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, R. (1987). Two scales for the assessment for personality disorder in antisocial populations. Personality and Individual Differences, 8, 81–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaszczynski, A., Steel, Z., & McConaghy, N. (1997). Impulsivity in pathological gambling: the antisocial impulsivist. Addiction, 92, 75–87.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard, T.J., Jr. (1994). Genes, environment, and personality. Science, 264, 1700–1701.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boulton, A.A., & Eisenhofer, G. (1998). Catecholamine metabolism. From molecular understanding to clinical diagnosis and treatment. Overview. Advances in Pharmacology, 42, 273–292.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brazelton, T.B., Tronick, E., Adamson, L., Als, H., & Wise, S. (1975). Early mother-infant reciprocity. Ciba Foundation Symposium, 33, 137–154.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cadoret, R.J., Yates, W.R., Troughton, E., Woodworth, G., & Stewart, M.A. (1995). Genetic-environmental interaction in the genesis of aggressivity and conduct disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52, 916–924.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carton, S., Jouvent, R., & Widlocher, D. (1994). Sensation seeking, nicotine dependence, and smoking motivation in female and male smokers. Addictive Behavior, 19, 219–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, F.M., Ko, H.C., Lu, R.B., Pakstis, A.J., & Kidd, K.K. (1997). The dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) is not associated with alcoholism in three iwanese populations: six polymorphisms tested separately and as haplotypes. Biological Psychiatry, 41, 394–05.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cherek, D.R., Moeller, F.G., Dougherty, D.M., & Rhoades, H. (1997). Studies of violent and nonviolent male parolees: II. Laboratory and psychometric measurements of impulsivity. Biological Psychiatry, 41, 523–529.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cloninger, C.R. (1986). A unified biosocial theory of personality and its role in the development of anxiety states. Psychiatric Development, 4, 167–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloninger, C.R. (1987). A systematic method for clinical description and classification of personality variants. A proposal. Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 573–588.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cloninger, C.R., Van Eerdewegh, P., Goate, A., Edenberg, H.J., Blangero, J., Hesselbrock, V., Reich, T., Nurnberger, J., Jr., Schuckit, M., Porjesz, B., Crowe, R., Rice, J.P., Foroud, T., Przybeck, T.R., Almasy, L., Bucholz, K., Wu, W., Shears, S., Carr, K., Crose, C., Willig, C., Zhao, J., Tischfield, J.A., Li, T.K., Conneally, P.M., et al. (1998). Anxiety proneness linked to epistatic loci in genome scan of human personality traits. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 81, 313–317.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coccaro, E.F., Kavoussi, R.J., Sheline, Y.I., Berman, M.E., & Csernansky, J.G. (1997). Impulsive aggression in personality disorder correlates with platelet 5-HT2A receptor binding. Neuropsychopharmacology, 16, 211–216.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coccaro, E.F., Kavoussi, R.J., Trestman, R.L., Gabriel, S.M., Cooper, T.B., & Siever, L.J. (1997). Serotonin function in human subjects: intercorrelations among central 5- HT indices and aggressiveness. Psychiatry Research, 73, 1–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Comings, D.E., Gonzales, N., Saucier, G., Johnson, J.P., & MacMurray, J.P. (2000). The DRD4 gene and the spiritual transcendence scale of the character temperament index. Psychiatric Genetics, 10, 185–189.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, H.J., Brown, A.M., & Moon, C.E. (1993). Sustained attentional and disattentional abilities: Differences between low and highly hypnotizable persons. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 102, 534–543.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz, C., Camarena, B., Mejia, J.M., Paez, F., Eroza, V., Ramon De La Fuente, J., Kershenobich, D., & Nicolini, H. (1995). The dopamine D2 receptor gene TaqI A1 polymorphism and alcoholism in a Mexican population. Archives of Medical Research, 26, 421–426.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Luca, A., Rizzardi, M., Torrente, I., Alessandroni, R., Salvioli, G.P., Filograsso, N., Dallapiccola, B., & Novelli, G. (2001). Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) polymorphism and adaptability trait during infancy: a longitudinal study in 1- to 5-month-old neonates. Neurogenetics, 3, 79–82.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deary, I.J., Battersby, S., Whiteman, M.C., Connor, J.M., Fowkes, F.G., & Harmar, A. (1999). Neuroticism and polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene. Psychological Medicine, 29, 735–739.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Downey, K.K., Stelson, F.W., Pomerleau, O.F., & Giordani, B. (1997). Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: psychological test profiles in a clinical population. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 185, 32–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dulawa, S.C., Grandy, D.K., Low, M.J., Paulus, M.P., & Geyer, M.A. (1999). Dopamine D4 receptor-knock-out mice exhibit reduced exploration of novel stimuli. Journal of Neuroscience, 19, 9550–9556.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebstein, R.P., & Belmaker, R.H. (1997). Saga of an adventure gene: novelty seeking, substance abuse and the dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) exon III repeat polymorphism. Molecular Psychiatry, 2, 381–384.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebstein, R.P., Benjamin, J., & Belmaker, R.H. (2000). Personality and polymorphisms of genes involved in aminergic neurotransmission. European Journal of Pharmacology, 410, 205–214.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebstein, R.P., Gritsenko, I., Nemanov, L., Frisch, A., Osher, Y., & Belmaker, R.H. (1997). No association between the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region polymorphism and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) temperament of harm avoidance. Molecular Psychiatry, 2, 224–226.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebstein, R.P., Levine, J., Geller, V., Auerbach, J., Gritsenko, I., & Belmaker, R.H. (1998). Dopamine D4 receptor and serotonin transporter promoter in the determination of neonatal temperament. Molecular Psychiatry, 3, 238–246.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebstein, R.P., Novick, O., Umansky, R., Priel, B., Osher, Y., Blaine, D., Bennett, E.R., Nemanov, L., Katz, M., & Belmaker, R.H. (1996). Dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) exon III polymorphism associated with the human personality trait of Novelty Seeking. Nature Genetics, 12, 78–80.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebstein, R.P., Segman, R., Benjamin, J., Osher, Y., Nemanov, L., & Belmaker, R.H. (1997). 5-HT2C (HTR2C) serotonin receptor gene polymorphism associated with the human personality trait of reward dependence: interaction with dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) and dopamine D3 receptor (D3DR) polymorphisms. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 74, 65–72.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Egan, M.F., Goldberg, T.E., Kolachana, B.S., Callicott, J.H., Mazzanti, C.M., Straub, R.E., Goldman, D., & Weinberger, D.R. (2001). Effect of COMT Val 108/158 Met genotype on frontal lobe function and risk for schizophrenia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 98, 6917–6922.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekelund, J., Lichtermann, D., Jarvelin, M.R., & Peltonen, L. (1999). Association between Novelty Seeking and the Type 4 dopamine receptor gene in a large Finnish cohort sample. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 1453–1455.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H.J. (1998). Dimensions of personality. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faraone, S.V., Biederman, J., & Monuteaux, M.C. (2000). Toward guidelines for pedigree selection in genetic studies of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Genetic Epidemiology, 18, 1–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faraone, S.V., Doyle, A.E., Mick, E., & Biederman, J. (2001). Meta-analysis of the association between the 7-repeat allele of the dopamine D(4) receptor gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 1052–1057.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ficher, I.V., Zuckerman, M., & Neeb, M. (1981). Marital compatibility in sensation seeking trait as a factor in marital adjustment. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 7, 60–69.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Floderus-Myrhed, B., Pedersen, N., & Rasmuson, I. (1980). Assessment of heritability for personality, based on a short-form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory: a study of 12,898 twin pairs. Behavior Genetics, 10, 153–162.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flory, J.D., Manuck, S.B., Ferrell, R.E., Dent, K.M., Peters, D.G., & Muldoon, M.F. (1999). Neuroticism is not associated with the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism. Molecular Psychiatry, 4, 93–96.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franke, P., Nothen, M.M., Wang, T., Knapp, M., Lichtermann, D., Neidt, H., Sander, T., Propping, P., & Maier, W. (2000). DRD4 exon III VNTR polymorphism-susceptibility factor for heroin dependence? Results of a case-control and a family-based association approach. Molecular Psychiatry, 5, 101–104.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gebhardt, C., Leisch, F., Schussler, P., Fuchs, K., Stompe, T., Sieghart, W., Hornik, K., Kasper, S., & Aschauer, H.N. (2000). Non-association of dopamine D4 and D2 receptor genes with personality in healthy individuals. Psychiatric Genetics, 10, 131–137.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geijer, T., Jonsson, E., Neiman, J., Persson, M.L., Brene, S., Gyllander, A., Sedvall, G., Rydberg, U., Wasserman, D., & Terenius, L. (1997). Tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine D4 receptor allelic distribution in Scandinavian chronic alcoholics. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 21, 35–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelernter, J., Kranzler, H., Coccaro, E., Siever, L., New, A., & Mulgrew, C.L. (1997). D4 dopamine-receptor (DRD4) alleles and novelty seeking in substance-dependent, personality-disorder, and control subjects. American Journal of Human Genetics, 61, 1144–1152.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gelernter, J., Kranzler, H., Coccaro, E.F., Siever, L.J., & New, A.S. (1998). Serotonin transporter protein gene polymorphism and personality measures in African American and European American subjects. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 1332–1338.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, D. (1995). Candidate genes in alcoholism. Clinical Neuroscience, 3, 174–181.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, B.D., Li, Q., Lucas, F.R., Hu, S., Sirota, L.A., Benjamin, J., Lesch, K.P., Hamer, D., & Murphy, D.L. (2000). Association between the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism and personality traits in a primarily female population sample. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 96, 202–216.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grosz, D.E., Lipschitz, D.S., Eldar, S., Finkelstein, G., Blackwood, N., Gerbino-Rosen, G., Faedda, G.L., & Plutchik, R. (1994). Correlates of violence risk in hospitalized adolescents. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 35, 296–300.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gustavsson, J.P., Nothen, M.M., Jonsson, E.G., Neidt, H., Forslund, K., Rylander, G., Mattila-Evenden, M., Sedvall, G.C., Propping, P., & Asberg, M. (1999). No association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and personality traits. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 88, 430–436.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hallikainen, T., Saito, T., Lachman, H.M., Volavka, J., Pohjalainen, T., Ryynanen, O.P., Kauhanen, J., Syvalahti, E., Hietala, J., & Tiihonen, J. (1999). Association between low activity serotonin transporter promoter genotype and early onset alcoholism with habitual impulsive violent behavior. Molecular Psychiatry, 4, 385–388.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, S.P., Heiman, G.A., Haghighi, F., Mick, S., Klein, D.F., Hodge, S.E., Weissman, M.M., Fyer, A.J., & Knowles, J.A. (1999). Lack of genetic linkage or association between a functional serotonin transporter polymorphism and panic disorder. Psychiatric Genetics, 9, 1–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hare, R.D., & McPherson, L.M. (1984). Violent and aggressive behavior by criminal psychopaths. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 7, 35–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heath, A.C., Cloninger, C.R., & Martin, N.G. (1994). Testing a model for the genetic structure of personality: a comparison of the personality systems of Cloninger and Eysenck. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66, 762–775.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heils, A., Teufel, A., Petri, S., Stober, G., Riederer, P., Bengel, D., & Lesch, K.P. (1996). Allelic variation of human serotonin transporter gene expression. Journal of Neurochemistry, 66, 2621–2624.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herbst, J.H., Zonderman, A.B., McCrae, R.R., & Costa, P.T., Jr. (2000). Do the dimensions of the temperament and character inventory map a simple genetic architecture? Evidence from molecular genetics and factor analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 1285–1290.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, R., Kotler, M., Shufman, E., Aharoni, S., Kremer, I., Cohen, H., & Ebstein, R.P. (2000). Confirmation of an excess of the high enzyme activity COMT val allele in heroin addicts in a family-based haplotype relative risk study. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 96, 599–603.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howarth, E. (1986). What does Eysenck’s psychoticism scale really measure? British Journal of Psychology, 77, 223–227.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hur, Y.M., & Bouchard, T.J., Jr. (1997). The genetic correlation between impulsivity and sensation seeking traits. Behavior Genetics, 27, 455–463.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hymbaugh, K., & Garrett, J. (1974). Sensation seeking among skydivers. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 38, 118.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jonah, B.A. (1997). Sensation seeking and risky driving: a review and synthesis of the literature. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 29, 651–665.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsson, E.G., Nothen, M.M., Gustavsson, J.P., Neidt, H., Forslund, K., Mattila-Evenden, M., Rylander, G., Propping, P., & Asberg, M. (1998). Lack of association between dopamine D4 receptor gene and personality traits. Psychological Medicine, 28, 985–989.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jorm, A.F., Henderson, A.S., Jacomb, P.A., Christensen, H., Korten, A.E., Rodgers, B., Tan, X., & Easteal, S. (1998). An association study of a functional polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene with personality and psychiatric symptoms. Molecular Psychiatry, 3, 449–451.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalivas, P.W., & Nakamura, M. (1999). Neural systems for behavioral activation and reward. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 9, 223–227.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H.I., Sadock, B.J., & Grebb, J.A. (1994). Synopsis of psychiatry (7th ed.). Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katsuragi, S., Kunugi, H., Sano, A., Tsutsumi, T., Isogawa, K., Nanko, S., & Akiyoshi, J. (1999). Association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and anxiety-related traits. Biological Psychiatry, 45, 368–370.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kavoussi, R., Armstead, P., & Coccaro, E. (1997). The neurobiology of impulsive aggression. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20, 395–403.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kazmi, M.A., Snyder, L.A., Cypess, A.M., Graber, S.G., & Sakmar, T.P. (2000). Selective reconstitution of human D4 dopamine receptor variants with Gi alpha subtypes. Biochemistry, 39, 3734–3744.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klinteberg, B., Hallman, J., Oreland, L., Wirsen, A., Levander, S.E., & Schalling, D. (1992). Exploring the connections between platelet monoamine oxidase activity and behavior. II. Impulsive personality without neuropsychological signs of disinhibition in air force pilot recruits. Neuropsychobiology, 26, 136–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koopmans, J.R., Boomsma, D.I., Heath, A.C., & van Doornen, L.J. (1995). A multivariate genetic analysis of sensation seeking. Behavior Genetics, 25, 349–356.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler, M., Barak, P., Cohen, H., Averbuch, I.E., Grinshpoon, A., Gritsenko, I., Nemanov, L., & Ebstein, R.P. (1999). Homicidal behavior in schizophrenia associated with a genetic polymorphism determining low catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 88, 628–633.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler, M., Cohen, H., Segman, R., Gritsenko, I., Nemanov, L., Lerer, B., Kramer, I., Zer-Zion, M., Kletz, I., & Ebstein, R.P. (1997). Excess dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) exon III seven repeat allele in opioid-dependent subjects. Molecular Psychiatry, 2, 251–254.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, K.U., Meyer, K., Nothen, M.M., Gansicke, M., Papassotiropoulos, A., & Maier, W. (1999). Allelic variants of dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) and serotonin receptor 5HT2c (HTR2c) and temperament factors: replication tests. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 88, 168–172.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kumakiri, C., Kodama, K., Shimizu, E., Yamanouchi, N., Okada, S., Noda, S., Okamoto, H., Sato, T., & Shirasawa, H. (1999). Study of the association between the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region polymorphism and personality traits in a Japanese population. Neuroscience Letters, 263, 205–207.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • La Grange, L., Jones, T.D., Erb, L., & Reyes, E. (1995). Alcohol consumption: biochemical and personality correlates in a college student population. Addictive Behavior, 20, 93–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachman, H.M., Nolan, K.A., Mohr, P., Saito, T., & Volavka, J. (1998). Association between catechol O-methyltransferase genotype and violence in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 835–837.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lachman, H.M., Papolos, D.F., Saito, T., Yu, Y.M., Szumlanski, C.L., & Weinshilboum, R.M. (1996). Human catechol-O-methyltransferase pharmacogenetics: description of a functional polymorphism and its potential application to neuropsychiatric disorders. Pharmacogenetics, 6, 243–250.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaHoste, G.J., Swanson, J.M., Wigal, S.B., Glabe, C., Wigal, T., King, N., & Kennedy, J.L. (1996). Dopamine D4 receptor gene polymorphism is associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 1, 121–124.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lakatos, K., Toth, I., Nemoda, Z., Ney, K., Sasvari-Szekely, M., & Gervai, J. (2000). Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene polymorphism is associated with attachment disorganization in infants. Molecular Psychiatry, 5, 633–637.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lesch, K.P., Bengel, D., Heils, A., Sabol, S.Z., Greenberg, B.D., Petri, S., Benjamin, J., Muller, C.R., Hamer, D.H., & Murphy, D.L. (1996). Association of anxiety-related traits with a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region. Science, 274, 1527–1531.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li, T., Xu, K., Deng, H., Cai, G., Liu, J., Liu, X., Wang, R., Xiang, X., Zhao, J., Murray, R.M., Sham, P.C., & Collier, D.A. (1997). Association analysis of the dopamine D4 gene exon III VNTR and heroin abuse in Chinese subjects. Molecular Psychiatry, 2, 413–416.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenberg, P., Bachner-Melman, R., Gritsenko, I., & Ebstein, R.P. (2000). Exploratory association study between catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) high/low enzyme activity polymorphism and hypnotizability. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 96, 771–774.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lichter, J.B., Barr, C.L., Kennedy, J.L., Van Tol, H.H., Kidd, K.K., & Livak, K.J. (1993). A hypervariable segment in the human dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene. Human Molecular Genetics, 2, 767–773.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lotta, T., Vidgren, J., Tilgmann, C., Ulmanen, I., Melen, K., Julkunen, I., & Taskinen, J. (1995). Kinetics of human soluble and membrane-bound catechol O-methyltransferase: a revised mechanism and description of the thermolabile variant of the enzyme. Biochemistry, 34, 4202–4210.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, M.J., True, W.R., Eisen, S.A., Goldberg, J., Meyer, J.M., Faraone, S.V., Eaves, L.J., & Tsuang, M.T. (1995). Differential heritability of adult and juvenile antisocial traits. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52, 906–915.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malhotra, A.K., & Goldman, D. (2000). The dopamine D(4) receptor gene and novelty seeking. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 1885–1886.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malhotra, A.K., Virkkunen, M., Rooney, W., Eggert, M., Linnoila, M., & Goldman, D. (1996). The association between the dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) 16 amino acid repeat polymorphism and novelty seeking. Molecular Psychiatry, 1, 388–391.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mannisto, P.T. (1998). Catechol O-methyltransferase: characterization of the protein, its gene, and the preclinical pharmacology of COMT inhibitors. Advances in Pharmacology, 42, 324–328.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manor, I., Eisenberg, J., Tyano, S., Sever, Y., Cohen, H., Ebstein, R.P., & Kotler, M. (2001). Family based association study of the serotonin transporter promoter-region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). American Journal of Medical Genetics, 105, 91–95.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, N.G., & Boomsma, D.I. (1989). Willingness to drive when drunk and personality: a twin study. Behavior Genetics, 19, 97–111.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mawson, A.R., Biundo, J.J., Jr., Clemmer, D.I., Jacobs, K.W., Ktsanes, V.K., & Rice, J.C. (1996). Sensation-seeking, criminality, and spinal cord injury: a case-control study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 144, 463–472.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzanti, CM., Lappalainen, J., Long, J.C., Bengel, D., Naukkarinen, H., Eggert, M., Virkkunen, M., Linnoila, M., & Goldman, D. (1998). Role of the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism in anxiety-related traits. Archives of General Psychiatry, 55, 936–940.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCourt, W.F., Gurrera, R.J., & Cutter, H.S. (1993). Sensation seeking and novelty seeking. Are they the same? Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 181, 309–312.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCown, W. (1989). The relationship between impulsivity, empathy and involvement in twelve step self-help substance abuse treatment groups. British Journal of Addictions, 84, 391–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCrae, R.R., & Costa, P.T., Jr. (1997). Personality trait structure as a human universal. American Psychologist, 52, 509–516.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mel, H., Horowitz, R., Ohel, N., Kramer, I., Kotler, M., Cohen, H., Gritsenko, I., & Ebstein, R.P. (1998). Additional evidence for an association between the dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) exon III seven-repeat allele and substance abuse in opioid dependent subjects: Relationship of treatment retention to genotype and personality. Addiction Biology, 3, 473–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michel, G., Carton, S., & Jouvent, R. (1997). [Sensation seeking and anhedonia in risk taking. Study of a population of bungy jumpers]. Encephale, 23, 403–411.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitsuyasu, H., Hirata, N., Sakai, Y., Shibata, H., Takeda, Y., Ninomiya, H., Kawasaki, H., Tashiro, N., & Fukumaki, Y. (2001). Association analysis of polymorphisms in the upstream region of the human dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) with schizophrenia and personality traits. Journal of Human Genetics, 46, 26–31.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, A.B., & Lilienfeld, S.O. (2000). A meta-analytic review of the relation between antisocial behavior and neuropsychological measures of executive function. Clinical Psychology Review, 20, 113–136.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murakami, F., Shimomura, T., Kotani, K., Ikawa, S., Nanba, E., & Adachi, K. (1999). Anxiety traits associated with a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region in the Japanese. Journal of Human Genetics, 44, 15–17.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muramatsu, T., Higuchi, S., Murayama, M., Matsushita, S., & Hayashida, M. (1996). Association between alcoholism and the dopamine D4 receptor gene. Journal of Medical Genetics, 33, 113–115.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nigg, J.T., & Goldsmith, H.H. (1994). Genetics of personality disorders: perspectives from personality and psychopathology research. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 346–380.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niimi, Y., Inoue-Murayama, M., Murayama, Y., Ito, S., & Iwasaki, T. (1999). Allelic variation of the D4 dopamine receptor polymorphic region in two dog breeds, Golden retriever and Shiba. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 61, 1281–1286.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noble, E.P., Ozkaragoz, T.Z., Ritchie, T.L., Zhang, X., Belin, T.R., & Sparkes, R.S. (1998). D2 and D4 dopamine receptor polymorphisms and personality. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 81, 257–267.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Okuyama, Y., Ishiguro, H., Nankai, M., Shibuya, H., Watanabe, A., & Arinami, T. (2000). Identification of a polymorphism in the promoter region of DRD4 associated with the human novelty seeking personality trait. Molecular Psychiatry, 5, 64–69.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ono, Y., Manki, H., Yoshimura, K., Muramatsu, T., Mizushima, H., Higuchi, S., Yagi, G., Kanba, S., & Asai, M. (1997). Association between dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) exon III polymorphism and novelty seeking in Japanese subjects. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 74, 501–503.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osher, Y., Hamer, D., & Benjamin, J. (2000). Association and linkage of anxiety-related traits with a functional polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region in Israeli sibling pairs. Molecular Psychiatry, 5, 216–219.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, A.D., Sunohara, G.A., & Kennedy, J.L. (1999). Dopamine D4 receptor gene: novelty or nonsense? Neuropsychopharmacology, 21, 3–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Persson, M.L., Wasserman, D., Geijer, T., Frisch, A., Rockah, R., Michaelovsky, E., Apter, A., Weizman, A., Jonsson, E.G., & Bergman, H. (2000). Dopamine D4 receptor gene polymorphism and personality traits in healthy volunteers. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 250, 203–206.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pogue-Geile, M., Ferrell, R., Deka, R., Debski, T., & Manuck, S. (1998). Human novelty-seeking personality traits and dopamine D4 receptor polymorphisms: a twin and genetic association study. American Journal of Medial Genetics, 81, 44–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomerleau, C.S., Pomerleau, O.F., Flessland, K.A., & Basson, S.M. (1992). Relationship of Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire scores and smoking variables in female and male smokers. Journal of Substance Abuse, 4, 143–154.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raine, A. (1996). Autonomic nervous system factors underlying disinhibited, antisocial, and violent behavior. Biosocial perspectives and treatment implications. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 794, 46–59.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raine, A., Lencz, T., Bihrle, S., LaCasse, L., & Colletti, P. (2000). Reduced prefrontal gray matter volume and reduced autonomic activity in antisocial personality disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57, 119–127.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raine, A., Venables, P.H., & Williams, M. (1990). Relationships between central and autonomic measures of arousal at age 15 years and criminality at age 24 years. Archives of General Psychiatry, 47, 1003–1007.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ricketts, M.H., Hamer, R.M., Sage, J.I., Manowitz, P., Feng, F., & Menza, M.A. (1998). Association of a serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism with harm avoidance behaviour in an elderly population. Psychiatric Genetics, 8, 41–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, T.W., & Everitt, B.J. (1996). Neurobehavioural mechanisms of reward and motivation. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 6, 228–236.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ronai, Z., Szekely, A., Nemoda, Z., Lakatos, K., Gervai, J., Staub, M., & Sasvari-Szekely, M. (2001). Association between Novelty Seeking and the -521 C/T polymorphism in the promoter region of the DRD4 gene. Molecular Psychiatry, 6, 35–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubinstein, M., Phillips, T.J., Bunzow, J.R., Falzone, T.L., Dziewczapolski, G., Zhang, G., Fang, Y., Larson, J.L., McDougall, J.A., Chester, J.A., Saez, C., Pugsley, T.A., Gershanik, O., Low, M.J., & Grandy, D.K. (1997). Mice lacking dopamine D4 receptors are supersensitive to ethanol, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Cell, 90, 991–1001.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sander, T., Harms, H., Dufeu, P., Kuhn, S., Rommelspacher, H., & Schmidt, L.G. (1997). Dopamine D4 receptor exon III alleles and variation of novelty seeking in alcoholics. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 74, 483–487.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schroth, M.L. (1996). Scores on sensation seeking as a predictor of sexual activities among homosexuals. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 82, 657–658.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, W. (1997). Dopamine neurons and their role in reward mechanisms. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 7, 191–197.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seeger, G., Schloss, P., & Schmidt, M.H. (2001). Functional polymorphism within the promotor of the serotonin transporter gene is associated with severe hyperkinetic disorders. Molecular Psychiatry, 6, 235–238.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shields, P.G., Lerman, C., Audrain, J., Bowman, E.D., Main, D., Boyd, N.R., & Caporaso, N.E. (1998). Dopamine D4 receptors and the risk of cigarette smoking in African-Americans and Caucasians. Cancer Epidemiological Biomarkers Prevention, 7, 453–458.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strobel, A., Wehr, A., Michel, A., & Brocke, B. (1999). Association between the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon III polymorphism and measures of Novelty Seeking in a German population. Molecular Psychiatry, 4, 378–384.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strous, R.D., Bark, N., Parsia, S.S., Volavka, J., & Lachman, H.M. (1997). Analysis of a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism in schizophrenia: evidence for association with aggressive and antisocial behavior. Psychiatry Research, 69, 71–77.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, P.F., Fifield, W.J., Kennedy, M.A., Mulder, R.T., Sellman, J.D., & Joyce, P.R. (1998). No association between novelty seeking and the type 4 dopamine receptor gene (DRD4) in two New Zealand samples. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 98–101.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomitaka, M., Tomitaka, S., Otuka, Y., Kim, K., Matuki, H., Sakamoto, K., & Tanaka, A. (1999). Association between novelty seeking and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) exon III polymorphism in Japanese subjects. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 88, 469–471.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Tol, H.H. (1996). The dopamine D4 receptor. NIDA Research Monograph, 161, 20–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Tol, H.H. (1998). Structural and functional characteristics of the dopamine D4 receptor. Advances in Pharmacology, 42, 486–490.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vandenbergh, D.J., Rodriguez, L.A., Hivert, E., Schiller, J.H., Villareal, G., Pugh, E.W., Lachman, H., & Uhl, G.R. (2000). Long forms of the dopamine receptor (DRD4) gene VNTR are more prevalent in substance abusers: No interaction with functional alleles of the catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 96, 678–683.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vandenbergh, D.J., Rodriguez, L.A., Miller, I.T., Uhl, G.R., & Lachman, H.M. (1997). High-activity catechol-O-methyltransferase allele is more prevalent in polysubstance abusers. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 74, 439–442.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vandenbergh, D.J., Zonderman, A.B., Wang, J., Uhl, G.R., & Costa, P.T., Jr. (1997). No association between novelty seeking and dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) exon III seven repeat alleles in Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging participants. Molecular Psychiatry, 2, 417–419.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • von Knorring, L., von Knorring, A.L., Smigan, L., Lindberg, U., & Edholm, M. (1987). Personality traits in subtypes of alcoholics. Journal of Studies of Alcohol, 48, 523–527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vukov, M., Baba-Milkic, N., Lecic, D., Mijalkovic, S., & Marinkovic, J. (1995). Personality dimensions of opiate addicts. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 91, 103–107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weinshilboum, R., & Dunnette, J. (1981). Thermal stability and the biochemical genetics of erythrocyte catechol-O-methyl-transferase and plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. Clinical Genetics, 19, 426–437.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wills, T.A., Windle, M., & Geary, S.D. (1998). Temperament and novelty seeking in adolescent substance use: convergence of dimensions of temperament with constructs from Cloninger’s theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 387–406.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wise, R.A. (1996). Neurobiology of addiction. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 6, 243–251.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Young, T.J. (1990). Sensation seeking and self-reported criminality among student-athletes. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 70, 959–962.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioral expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    Richard P. Ebstein M.D. & Robert H. Belmaker M.D.

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

    Richard P. Ebstein M.D. & Robert H. Belmaker M.D.

Authors
  1. Richard P. Ebstein M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert H. Belmaker M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bar-Ilan University, Israel

    Joseph Glicksohn

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ebstein, R.P., Belmaker, R.H. (2002). Genetics of Sensation or Novelty Seeking and Criminal Behavior. In: Glicksohn, J. (eds) The Neurobiology of Criminal Behavior. Neurobiological Foundation of Aberrant Behaviors, vol 5. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0943-1_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0943-1_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5316-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0943-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation