DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism affects corticostriatal activity in response to negative affective facial stimuli

► DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism affects corticostriatal activity. ► Higher signal intensity in the homozygous group than in the heterozygous group. ► The molecular heterosis may play an important role in these responses. DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism has been suggested to be involved in a reward-related psychiatric disorders. However, the effect of Dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) on emotional processing has not been investigated yet. We investigated the possible relationship between DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism and corticostriatal response to negative facial stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging. All participants were genotyped with regard to the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism. Our results suggest an association between the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism and activations in the putamen, the anterior cingulate cortex, and amygdala in response to negative facial stimuli. Furthermore, molecular heterosis at the TaqI polymorphism of DRD2/ANKK1 may play an important role in affective regulation by corticostriatal pathway.