Abstract
BackgroundPrefrontal dopamine is catabolized by the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme. Current evidence suggests that the val/met single nucleotide polymorphism in the COMT gene can predict the efficiency of executive cognition in humans. Individuals carrying the val allele perform more poorly because less synaptic dopamine is available.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe investigated the influence of the COMT polymorphism on motor performance in a task that requires different executive functions. We administered a manual aiming motor task that was performed under four different conditions of execution by 111 healthy participants. Participants were grouped according to genotype (met/met, met/val, val/val), and the motor performance among groups was compared. Overall, the results indicate that met/met carriers presented lower levels of peak velocity during the movement trajectory than the val carriers, but met/met carriers displayed higher accuracy than the val carriers.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study found a significant association between the COMT polymorphism and manual aiming control. Few studies have investigated the genetics of motor control, and these findings indicate that individual differences in motor control require further investigation using genetic studies.
Highlights
It is well known that dopaminergic functions play a critical role in human behavior and cognition
Conclusions/Significance: This study found a significant association between the COMT polymorphism and manual aiming control
The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme is responsible for more than 60% of the metabolic degradation of dopamine in the frontal cortex [5]. This enzyme has been associated with aspects of human cognition that are related to the dopaminergic system [6]
Summary
It is well known that dopaminergic functions play a critical role in human behavior and cognition. Cognitive resources associated with the DLPFC are recruited during manual motor control, which enables us to hold information, to remember the desired goal, to resist distractions, to stay on task, to resist responding too early, and to inhibit a prepotent response [25]. All of these functions are related to motor response preparation and the monitoring of manual aiming movements [24]. No study investigating how the COMT polymorphism is related to manual aiming control has been reported
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
