A functional polymorphism in the COMT gene and performance on a test of prefrontal cognition.
OBJECTIVE
In the prefrontal cortex, the enzyme catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) is critical in the metabolic degradation of dopamine, a neurotransmitter hypothesized to influence human cognitive function. The COMT gene contains a functional polymorphism, Val158Met, that exerts a fourfold effect on enzyme activity. The current study investigated whether prefrontal cognition varies with COMT genotype.


METHODS
Val158Met was genotyped in 73 healthy volunteers. A task of prefrontal cognition, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, was also administered.


RESULTS
Subjects with only the low-activity met allele made significantly fewer perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test than did subjects with the val allele.


CONCLUSIONS
These data are consistent with those of previous studies, suggesting that a functional genetic polymorphism may influence prefrontal cognition.
Malhotra
Anil K
AK
Unit of Molecular Psychiatry, Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, USA. malhotra@lij.edu
Kestler
Lisa J
LJ
Mazzanti
Chiara
C
Bates
John A
JA
Goldberg
Terry
T
Goldman
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D003062:Codon; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics
D003062:Codon; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine