title: COMT and ANKK1-Taq-Ia genetic polymorphisms influence visual working memory.
abstract: Complex cognitive tasks such as visual working memory (WM) involve networks of interacting brain regions. Several neurotransmitters, including an appropriate dopamine concentration, are important for WM performance. A number of gene polymorphisms are associated with individual differences in cognitive task performance. COMT, for example, encodes catechol-o-methyl transferase the enzyme primarily responsible for catabolizing dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. Striatal dopamine function, linked with cognitive tasks as well as habit learning, is influenced by the Taq-Ia polymorphism of the DRD2/ANKK1 gene complex; this gene influences the density of dopamine receptors in the striatum. Here, we investigated the effects of these polymorphisms on a WM task requiring the maintenance of 4 or 6 items over delay durations of 1 or 5 seconds. We explored main effects and interactions between the COMT and DRD2/ANKK1-Taq-Ia polymorphisms on WM performance. Participants were genotyped for COMT (Val(158)Met) and DRD2/ANKK1-Taq-Ia (A1+, A1-) polymorphisms. There was a significant main effect of both polymorphisms. Participants' WM reaction times slowed with increased Val loading such that the Val/Val homozygotes made the slowest responses and the Met/Met homozygotes were the fastest. Similarly, WM reaction times were slower and more variable for the DRD2/ANKK1-Taq-Ia A1+ group than the A1- group. The main effect of COMT was only apparent in the DRD2/ANKK1-Taq-Ia A1- group. These findings link WM performance with slower dopaminergic metabolism in the prefrontal cortex as well as a greater density of dopamine receptors in the striatum.
authors: Memory and Brain Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, United States of America. mberryhill@unr.edu
authors: Marian E
authors: ME
authors: Berryhill
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Wiener
authors: Jaclyn A
authors: JA
authors: Stephens
authors: Falk W
authors: FW
authors: Lohoff
authors: H Branch
authors: HB
authors: Coslett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; C489948:ANKK1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D004298:Dopamine
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