Differential effect of catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype on emotional recognition abilities in healthy men and women.
The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism modulates executive functions and working memory and recent neuroimaging studies implicate an association with emotional processing. We examined the relationship between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and facial emotion recognition and differentiation in 100 healthy individuals. Compared to Met homozygosity, Val homozygosity was associated with better and faster recognition of negative facial expressions such as anger and sad. Our study provides evidence for a possible influence of the COMT polymorphism on emotion recognition abilities in healthy subjects. Additional research is needed to further define the neurocognitive phenotypes associated with COMT polymorphisms.
Weiss
Elisabeth M
EM
Department of General Psychiatry, Innsbruck Medical, Innsbruck, Austria. elisabeth.weiss@uibk.ac.at
Stadelmann
Edith
E
Kohler
Christian G
CG
Brensinger
Colleen M
CM
Nolan
Karen A
KA
Oberacher
Herbert
H
Parson
Walther
W
Pitterl
Florian
F
Niederstätter
Harald
H
Kemmler
Georg
G
Hinterhuber
Hartmann
H
Marksteiner
Josef
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics*
D008715:Methionine; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D014633:Valine