CLOCK polymorphism association with personality traits in Japanese subjects

Abstract

Clock genes efficiently regulate circadian rhythms and also the biological environment rhythm and determine an efficient morning and night routine, acting as risk factors for psychosis. In this study, after obtaining informed consent, blood samples were obtained from male (n = 34) and female (n = 107) subjects. We performed NEO-FFI personality and STAI tests to determine whether or not clock gene polymorphisms are associated with reward personality-related traits, as assessed using the five-factor model. We used the unpaired T-test for statistical analysis, and the statistical significance level was defined as p < 0.025. As a result of the statistical analysis, significant differences were found in the allele frequencies of the rs3805151 polymorphism in terms of openness in the NEO-FFI personality test (p = 0.003 in all subjects; p = 0.0004 in female subjects). We conclude that the CLOCK polymorphic may affect openness, as measured by NEO-FFI. Further investigations involving personality questionnaires with more subjects are necessary to confirm the relationship between the clock gene and personality.