Relations between catechol‐O‐methyltransferase Val158Met genotype and inhibitory control development in childhood

Citations Over Time

Abstract

The Val158Met rs4680 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, primarily involved in dopamine breakdown within prefrontal cortex, has shown relations with inhibitory control (IC) in both adults and children. However, little is known about how COMT genotype relates to developmental trajectories of IC throughout childhood. Here, our study explored the effects of the COMT genotype (Val/Val, Val/Met, and Met/Met) on IC trajectories between the ages of 5 and 10 years. Children (n = 222) completed a Go/Nogo task at ages 5, 7, and 10; IC was characterized using signal detection theory to examine IC performance (d') and response strategy (RS) (criterion). COMT genotype was not related to initial levels of IC performance and RS at age 5 or change in RS from ages 5 to 10. In contrast, COMT genotype was related to change in IC performance between 5 and 10 years. While Val/Val children did not differ from Val/Met children in development of IC performance, children with the Met/Met genotype exhibited more rapid development of IC performance when compared with Val/Met peers. These results suggest that COMT genotype modulates the development of IC performance in middle childhood.

Related Papers

• → Application of electrosynthesized poly(aniline-co-p-aminophenol) as a catechol sensor(2008)33 cited
• → A semiempirical study on inhibition of catechol O-methyltransferase by substituted catechols(1998)17 cited
• → Hydrogen bonding and crystal packing trends in tetraalkylammonium halide—catechol complexes: synthesis, spectroscopic and crystal structure studies of Me4NC1—catechol, Et4NCl—catechol, Et4NBr—catechol and Pr4NBr—catechol complexes(1986)15 cited
• → Synthesis of Linear Oligo(catechol) Ligands for the Metal Directed Self-Assembling of Helicates(1996)22 cited
• → A sensitive radioenzymatic assay for catechol drugs(1980)102 cited