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Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.

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Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
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Published on: May 4, 2020

The COMT Val158Met polymorphism modulates working memory performance under acute stress.

Magdalena Buckert1, Brigitte M Kudielka, Martin Reuter

  • 1Department of Psychology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. magdalena.buckert@stud.uni-frankfurt.de

Psychoneuroendocrinology
|April 17, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Genetic variations in COMT Val158Met influence working memory under stress. Stress impaired performance in Met homozygotes more than Val homozygotes, particularly on medium-difficulty tasks.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Genetics
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • The COMT Val158Met polymorphism affects prefrontal cortex (PFC) dopamine levels, crucial for cognitive functions.
  • Dopamine's inverted U-shaped effect on PFC function suggests stress impacts working memory differently based on genotype.
  • The PFC is vital for higher cognition and stress response regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how the COMT Val158Met polymorphism modulates working memory performance under psychosocial stress.
  • To examine the interaction between genetic predisposition, stress, and cognitive task demands.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty-three healthy young adults, homozygous for COMT Val158Met, were studied.
  • Participants completed an n-back working memory task following the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G).

Main Results:

  • Working memory performance significantly declined under stress for Met homozygotes compared to Val homozygotes.
  • This genotype-specific stress effect on working memory was observed specifically at the medium difficulty level of the n-back task.

Conclusions:

  • Genetic variation in prefrontal dopamine levels, as indexed by the COMT polymorphism, significantly influences working memory under stress.
  • Highlights the critical interplay between genetic factors, environmental stressors, and task-specific cognitive demands.