Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity does not influence emotional processing in men.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) regulates cortical dopaminergic transmission and prefrontal-dependent cognitive function. However, its role in other cognitive processes, including emotional processing, is relatively unexplored. We therefore investigated the separate and interactive influences of COMT inhibition and Val¹⁵⁸Met (rs4680) genotype on performance on an emotional test battery.

Methods

We recruited 74 healthy men homozygous for the functional COMT Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphism. Volunteers were administered either a single 200 mg dose of the brain-penetrant COMT inhibitor tolcapone or placebo in a double-blind, randomised manner. Emotional processing was assessed using the emotional test battery, and mood was rated using visual analogue

SUBMITTER: Martens MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9150146 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature