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Experimental Psychology (Russia)
2025. Vol. 18, no. 2, 72–88
doi:10.17759/exppsy.2025180204
ISSN: 2072-7593 / 2311-7036 (online)

Genotypes of polymorphic locus of BDNF gene and sex as factors of individual differences in cognitive styles

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. This study continues a series of experiments that aim to investigate the relationship between micro- and meso-levels of coping intelligence. The variability of cognitive styles is considered as a manifestation of individual differences in coping intelligence. Objective: to clarify the role of genotypes of polymorphic BDNF gene loci and sex in individual differences in cognitive styles. Hypothesis. Genotypes of polymorphic loci of BDNF and COMT genes, as well as sex, may act as factors in individual differences in cognitive styles. Methods and materials. The study involved 222 respondents aged 25 to 54 years (35,80 ± 9,47 years; 47,3% of men). Methods of analysis included identification of genotypes at the polymorphic rs6265 locus of the BDNF gene; Cognitive-Personality Style Questionnaire, CPS-Q; intelligence test, Raven's SPM. Results. In the sample of men with a change in the genotype of the BDNF gene (Val/Val, Val/Met, Met/Met), an increase in intelligence is noted (F = 3.683, p = 0.028), but at the same time, field independence (F = 4.991, p = 0.009), flexibility of cognitive control (F = 4.058, p = 0.020), and abstract conceptualization (F = 2.980, p = 0.05) decrease. In the sample of women with a change in the BDNF gene genotype (Val/Val, Val/Met, Met/Met), no significant changes in IQ were found, but an increase in the severity of such cognitive styles as field independence (F = 10.893, p < 0.001), wide range of equivalence (F = 7.814, p < 0.001), flexibility of cognitive control (F = 3.633, p = 0.030), reflectivity (F = 3.633, p = 0.030), and abstract conceptualization (F = 4.387, p = 0.015) was revealed. Conclusions. Empirical data were obtained on the influence of BDNF gene genotypes and sex, as well as the effects of their interaction on individual differences in cognitive styles: 1) BDNF gene genotypes have the main effect on variations in individual differences in cognitive styles (Pillai's Trace = 0,211, F = 2,026, p = 0,003, η2 = 0.106); 2) sex has the main effect on variations in individual differences in cognitive styles (Pillai's Trace = 0,124, F = 2,428, p = 0,006, η2 = 0,124); 3) the influence of the “BDNF gene genotype” factor on variations in individual differences in cognitive styles depends on variations in the “sex” factor (Pillai's Trace = 0,225, F = 2,176, p = 0,001, η2 = 0.112).

General Information

Keywords: BDNF gene, sex, cognitive style, field independence, wide range of equivalence, flexibility of cognitive control, reflectivity, abstract conceptualization, coping intelligence

Journal rubric: Psychophysiology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2025180204

Funding. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project number 23-18-00293, https://rscf.ru/project/23-18-00293/.

Acknowledgements. The authors express their gratitude to the study participants for their voluntary participation in the research, which is aimed at promoting the development of science. We also thank A.V. Varlamov, D.A. Dokuchaev, and I.O. Kuvaeva for assisting us in collecting data.

Received 11.12.2024

Accepted

Published

For citation: Volkova, E.V., Volkova, N.E. (2025). Genotypes of polymorphic locus of BDNF gene and sex as factors of individual differences in cognitive styles. Experimental Psychology (Russia), 18(2), 72–88. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2025180204

© Volkova E.V., Volkova N.E., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Elena V. Volkova, Doctor of Psychology, Head of the Laboratory of Psychology of Abilities and Mental Resources named after V.N. Druzhinin, Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3809-3639, e-mail: volkovaev@ipran.ru

Natalya E. Volkova, Junior Researcher at the Laboratory of the Psychology of Abilities and Mental Resources, Institute of Psychology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6225-6288, e-mail: volkovane@ipran.ru

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