Genetic mapping identifies Homer1 as a developmental modifier of attention.

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Title: Genetic mapping identifies Homer1 as a developmental modifier of attention.
Authors: Gershon, Zachary (AUTHOR), Bonito-Oliva, Alessandra (AUTHOR), Kanke, Matt (AUTHOR), Terceros, Andrea (AUTHOR), Rankin, Genelle (AUTHOR), Fak, John (AUTHOR), Harada, Yujin (AUTHOR), Iannone, Andrew F. (AUTHOR), Gebremedhin, Millennium (AUTHOR), Fabella, Brian (AUTHOR), De Marco García, Natalia V. (AUTHOR), Sethupathy, Praveen (AUTHOR), Rajasethupathy, Priya (AUTHOR)
Source: Nature Neuroscience. Mar2026, Vol. 29 Issue 3, p647-659. 13p.
Abstract: The genetic factors and resulting neural circuit physiology driving variation in attention are poorly understood. Here we took an unbiased forward genetics approach to identify genes of large effect on attention. We studied 200 genetically diverse mice and, through genetic mapping, identified a small locus on chromosome 13 (95% CI 92.22–94.09 Mb) that is significantly associated with variation in pre-attentive processing. Within the locus we identified a gene, Homer1, encoding a synaptic protein, whose downregulation during development led to improvements in multiple measures of attention in adulthood. Mechanistically, reduced Homer1 levels resulted in an upscaling of GABA receptors and enhanced inhibitory tone in the prefrontal cortex, leading to improved neural signal to noise and attentional performance. We thus identify a single genetic locus of large effect on attention and propose Homer1-dependent inhibitory tone, sculpted during a developmental sensitive period, as a key regulator and potential therapeutic target for attentional performance. Genetic mapping in mice identified Homer1a as a key modifier of attention. Developmental downregulation in the prefrontal cortex enhances inhibitory tone, neural signal to noise and adult attentional performance, revealing a new control mechanism and target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Nature Neuroscience is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Genetic mapping identifies Homer1 as a developmental modifier of attention.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nature+Neuroscience%22">Nature Neuroscience</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 29 Issue 3, p647-659. 13p.
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  Data: The genetic factors and resulting neural circuit physiology driving variation in attention are poorly understood. Here we took an unbiased forward genetics approach to identify genes of large effect on attention. We studied 200 genetically diverse mice and, through genetic mapping, identified a small locus on chromosome 13 (95% CI 92.22–94.09 Mb) that is significantly associated with variation in pre-attentive processing. Within the locus we identified a gene, Homer1, encoding a synaptic protein, whose downregulation during development led to improvements in multiple measures of attention in adulthood. Mechanistically, reduced Homer1 levels resulted in an upscaling of GABA receptors and enhanced inhibitory tone in the prefrontal cortex, leading to improved neural signal to noise and attentional performance. We thus identify a single genetic locus of large effect on attention and propose Homer1-dependent inhibitory tone, sculpted during a developmental sensitive period, as a key regulator and potential therapeutic target for attentional performance. Genetic mapping in mice identified Homer1a as a key modifier of attention. Developmental downregulation in the prefrontal cortex enhances inhibitory tone, neural signal to noise and adult attentional performance, revealing a new control mechanism and target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Nature Neuroscience is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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