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Exploratory association study between catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) high/low enzyme activity polymorphism and
P Lichtenberg1, R Bachner-Melman, I Gritsenko
1S. Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
American Journal of Medical Genetics
|December 20, 2000
Summary
Genetic variations in the COMT enzyme influence hypnotizability, particularly in men. The val/met genotype showed a significant association with hypnotizability compared to the val/val genotype.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Psychology
Background:
- Hypnosis research is increasingly exploring its neurobiological basis.
- Twin studies indicate a heritable component to hypnotizability.
- Individual differences in hypnotizability may be linked to genetic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between a common functional polymorphism in the COMT gene and individual differences in hypnotizability.
- To explore the relationship between COMT genotype and measures of attention and absorption.
Main Methods:
- 109 subjects were genotyped for the COMT val158met polymorphism.
- Participants completed the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS:C), Differential Attentional Processes Inventory (DAPI), and Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS).
- Multivariate analysis and post-hoc testing (Bonferroni correction) were used to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was observed between hypnotizability (SHSS:C), attention (DAPI), and absorption (TAS).
- Multivariate analysis revealed a significant effect of COMT genotype on the dependent variables.
- Post-hoc analysis indicated a significant difference in hypnotizability between COMT val/met and val/val genotypes, specifically in men.
Conclusions:
- The COMT val158met polymorphism is associated with hypnotizability, particularly in men.
- This finding suggests a genetic contribution to individual differences in hypnotic susceptibility.
- Further replication studies are needed to confirm these results.