reported that genetic ablation of G-protein-regulated inward-rectifier potassium channel 2 (GIRK2, a protein encoded by KCNJ6 gene), promotes adaptations in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system (Cooper et al., 2012; Kotecki, 2015), a mechanism which is related to brain reward network and believed to promote chronic alcohol/drug intake leading to addiction (Arora et al., 2010). Based on these findings, it was conceptualized that studying the effect of a KCNJ6 SNP on brain oscillations during reward processing would help elucidate its role underlying the brain reward system.
