Sex moderates the association between the COMT Val158Met single-nucleotide polymorphism and disorderliness facet of novelty seeking

Abstract

<p>Previous studies have shown inconsistent results regarding the effect of the Val₁₅₈Met polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (<i>COMT</i>) gene on personality and cognition. Here, nonclinical Caucasian university students of Italian origin were administered the Temperament and Character Inventory–Revised, Tellegen Absorption Scale, Differential Attentional Processes Inventory, and Waterloo-Stanford Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. We found that the COMT Val₁₅₈Met polymorphism was significantly associated with the disorderliness facet of novelty seeking (NS4) and that sex was a moderator of this association. Females with the Met/Met genotype showed higher NS4 scores compared to those with the Val/Met and Val/Val genotypes. No significant genotype effect was found for males. Additionally, we failed to find a significant effect of the <i>COMT</i> gene on attention and hypnotic suggestibility measures. These results provide further evidence for a sex-specific influence on the gene–behaviour associations.</p>