COMT Val158Met polymorphism, verbalizing of emotion and activation of affective brain systems

Marte Swart*, Richard Bruggeman, Frank Laroi, Behrooz Z. Alizadeh, Ido Kema, Rudie Kortekaas, Durk Wiersma, Andre Aleman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)
34 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Genetic variation in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism has been shown to influence performance on cognitive and emotional tasks. Specifically, it has been suggested that the Met allele might be less advantageous than the Val allele with respect to emotional processing.

This study addresses the question whether the presence of the Met allele is directly related to both lower emotional verbalizing proficiency and differences in brain activation during emotional processing. Specifically, we investigated whether COMT genotype would be associated with differences in activation in cortical midline structures during valence evaluation of words.

Forty participants ranging from low to high on the verbalizing subscale of the Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ) were genotyped for the COMT Val158Met polymorphism. During fMRI, they evaluated the valence of emotional words.

Met homozygotes reported more difficulties in verbalizing their feelings. In addition, the Met allele was associated with attenuated brain activation in posterior cingulate gyrus and precuneus during valence evaluation.

We conclude that the Met allele modulates neural activation in regions associated with emotional awareness. Our findings may contribute to understanding the neural correlates of susceptibility for affective disorders. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)338-344
Number of pages7
JournalNeuroimage
Volume55
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1-Mar-2011

Keywords

  • fMRI
  • COMT
  • Emotion
  • Valence evaluation
  • Emotional verbalizing
  • Cingulate cortex
  • CATECHOL-O-METHYLTRANSFERASE
  • VORST ALEXITHYMIA QUESTIONNAIRE
  • POSTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX
  • VAL(158)MET GENOTYPE
  • BIPOLAR DISORDER
  • FUNCTIONAL NEUROANATOMY
  • GENERAL-POPULATION
  • GENETIC-VARIATION
  • PANIC DISORDER
  • MET GENOTYPE

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'COMT Val158Met polymorphism, verbalizing of emotion and activation of affective brain systems'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this