title: COMT polymorphism modulates the resting-state EEG alpha oscillatory response to acute nicotine in male non-smokers.
abstract: Performance improvements in cognitive tasks requiring executive functions are evident with nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists, and activation of the underlying neural circuitry supporting these cognitive effects is thought to involve dopamine neurotransmission. As individual difference in response to nicotine may be related to a functional polymorphism in the gene encoding catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme that strongly influences cortical dopamine metabolism, this study examined the modulatory effects of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism on the neural response to acute nicotine as measured with resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillations. In a sample of 62 healthy non-smoking adult males, a single dose (6 mg) of nicotine gum administered in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design was shown to affect α oscillatory activity, increasing power of upper α oscillations in frontocentral regions of Met/Met homozygotes and in parietal/occipital regions of Val/Met heterozygotes. Peak α frequency was also found to be faster with nicotine (vs. placebo) treatment in Val/Met heterozygotes, who exhibited a slower α frequency compared to Val/Val homozygotes. The data tentatively suggest that interindividual differences in brain α oscillations and their response to nicotinic agonist treatment are influenced by genetic mechanisms involving COMT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de la Salle
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choueiry
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Impey
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Care Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philippe
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Care Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dort
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daigle
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Care Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beaudoin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Care Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010919:Placebos; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine; C588010:COMT protein, human; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Alpha; catechol-O-methyltransferase; cognition; dopamine; electroencephalography; genotype; nicotine; oscillations; polymorphism; resting state