Association of cathechol O-methyltransferaser (COMT) polymorphism and executive function in adolescents
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1
University of Ulm, Transfer Centre for Neuroscience and Learning, Germany
The catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene affects how long dopamine acts in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The methionine (Met) allele results in COMT activity that is up to four times less pronounced than that conferred by the valine (Val) allele, resulting in greater PFC dopamine concentrations. Therefore, generally, the Met polymorphism is associated with better executive functions. Although having more dopamine in the PFC is beneficial for executive function, it also makes one more sensitive to stress.
53 healthy right-handed German students (24 girls) of grade 7 (13-14 years) participated in this study. Students were tested in their classrooms on the Dots task. The Dots task depends on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which seems to be sensitive on the level of dopamine there.
In the congruent condition of the Dots task, students must remember one higher-order rule. The incongruent condition requires holding one rule in mind plus steady state inhibition. In the mixed condition (incongruent and congruent trials were randomly intermixed) two rules must be remembered. Furthermore, cognitive flexibility is needed to switch between the rules as well as inhibition on the incongruent and switch trial.
After data collection, cheek swabs were obtained from all students. DNA was extracted and genotyped for the COMT gene.
Adolescents who were homozygous for the Met polymorphism (N=15) performed significantly worse on the dots incongruent condition and the dots mixed condition than students who were homozygous for Val (N=14) or heterozygous Met/Val (N=24). No differences were found in the congruent condition of the Dots task that places no demand on behavioral inhibition.
Since we tested in a competitive situation in the classroom it seems that students homozygous for the valine version of the COMT gene or heterozygous showed better behavioral inhibition under this condition of mild stress than do students homozygous for the methionine version. Study results will be discussed within the context of stress and developmental changes in the dopaminergic system during childhood and adolescence.
Conference:
EARLI SIG22 - Neuroscience and Education, Zurich, Switzerland, 3 Jun - 5 Jun, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
General cognitive abilities
Citation:
Kubesch
S,
Walk
L and
Hille
K
(2010). Association of cathechol O-methyltransferaser (COMT) polymorphism and executive function in adolescents.
Front. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
EARLI SIG22 - Neuroscience and Education.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.11.00044
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Received:
31 May 2010;
Published Online:
31 May 2010.
*
Correspondence:
Sabine Kubesch, University of Ulm, Transfer Centre for Neuroscience and Learning, Ulm, Germany, sabine.kubesch@znl-ulm.de