Life history, serotonin transporter genotype and anxiety-like behaviour: testing the “coping-with-challenge hypothesis”
Sachser, Richter, Lesch
The project aims at investigating the interplay between genetic factors and experiences throughout lifetime in shaping the anxiety-like phenotype. In three consecutive experiments, the “coping-with-challenge hypothesis” will be tested that posits: Coping with adversity has beneficial effects on the anxious profile when following positive experiences earlier in life. Using serotonin transporter (5-HTT) knockout mice, anxiety-like behaviour will be assessed, and methods from cognitive psychology and molecular genetics will be applied.