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Brain predictive coding processes are associated to COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism

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  • L. Bonetti
  • S. E.P. Bruzzone, Royal Academy of Music
  • ,
  • N. A. Sedghi, The Royal Academy of Music
  • ,
  • N. T. Haumann
  • T. Paunio, University of Helsinki
  • ,
  • K. Kantojärvi, University of Helsinki
  • ,
  • M. Kliuchko, Royal Academy of Music
  • ,
  • P. Vuust
  • E. Brattico

Predicting events in the ever-changing environment is a fundamental survival function intrinsic to the physiology of sensory systems, whose efficiency varies among the population. Even though it is established that a major source of such variations is genetic heritage, there are no studies tracking down auditory predicting processes to genetic mutations. Thus, we examined the neurophysiological responses to deviant stimuli recorded with magnetoencephalography (MEG) in 108 healthy participants carrying different variants of Val158Met single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, responsible for the majority of catecholamines degradation in the prefrontal cortex. Our results showed significant amplitude enhancement of prediction error responses originating from the inferior frontal gyrus, superior and middle temporal cortices in heterozygous genotype carriers (Val/Met) vs homozygous (Val/Val and Met/Met) carriers. Integrating neurophysiology and genetics, this study shows how the neural mechanisms underlying optimal deviant detection vary according to the gene-determined cathecolamine levels in the brain.

Original languageEnglish
Article number117954
JournalNeuroImage
Volume233
Number of pages11
ISSN1053-8119
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors

    Research areas

  • Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, Magnetoencephalography (MEG), Mismatch negativity (MMN), Predictive coding

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