ABSTRACT
Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) can catalyze the degradation of a variety of amine neurotransmitter,including serotonin.The abnormalities of these neurotransmitter are closely associated with many psychiatric disorders.Studies have found that MAOA is polymorphic,with a low activity variant (MAOA-L),and a high activity variant (MAOA-H).In this review,through the studies of early stress on human and animal models,the effects of early stress and MAOA polymorphism on the behavior and emotional loop of individuals are analyzed.Analysis shows that,MAOA-L,versus MAOA-H,is more plastic.In early adverse environment,MAOA-L will increase the risk of adult violence,and in the early of energetically favorable environment will reduce the incidence of violence.Abnormality is more likely to occur in the emotional processing and cognitive function in the neural affective loop of individuals with MAOA-L,which makes them more environmentally susceptible than those with MAOA-H.