title: A functional polymorphism in the COMT gene and performance on a test of prefrontal cognition.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Molecular Psychiatry, Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, USA. malhotra@lij.edu
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kestler
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine