Comparison of visual evoked-related potentials in healthy young adults of different catechol-O-methyltransferase genotypes in a continuous 3-back task

We further support the notion that the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphism may play a role in cognitive function. A continuous visual 3-back numerical working memory task was performed for an hour among 21 patients with different COMT genotypes. P300 visual event-related potentials evoked from the 3-back task were first utilized to observe the relationship between this COMT polymorphism and cortical physiology. The results showed that Val/Met heterozygous individuals show poorer performance, lower P300 amplitude, and higher P300 latency than those bearing the Val/Val homozygote on the task. This visual 3-back paradigm is a promising tool to examine continuous working memory capacity. The role of the COMT gene in dopamine catabolism makes for the influence of COMT polymorphism on P300 endophenotypes.