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The COMT rs4680 polymorphism, family functioning and preschoolers’ attentional control indexed by intraindividual reaction time variability
Author(s) -
Zhang Yuewen,
Yang Xiaohui,
Wang Zhenhong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.22040
Subject(s) - rs4680 , catechol o methyl transferase , psychology , developmental psychology , attentional control , clinical psychology , genotype , cognition , psychiatry , genetics , gene , biology
Trial‐to‐trial intraindividual reaction time variability (IIRTV) serves as an index of attentional control and related endogenous brain function. What determinants contribute to preschoolers’ attentional control indexed by IIRTV remains unknown. The present study examined how catechol‐o‐methyltransferase (COMT) rs4680 polymorphism interacted with family functioning (cohesion and adaptability) to impact on preschoolers’ attentional control indexed by IIRTV. One hundred forty‐four preschool children ( M age = 4.19, SD = 0.63) completed the flanker task to assess their IIRTV. Their parents were asked to fill out the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale II to assess family functioning. After controlling for age, socioeconomic status (SES) and mean reaction time, results showed that the COMT rs4680 polymorphism was positively associated with preschoolers’ IIRTV at the 5% significance level ( p = .02) but not after multiple testing adjustment ( p = .08). Moreover the COMT rs4680 polymorphism significantly interacted with family functioning to impact on preschoolers’ IIRTV and the interaction effects remained significant after correction for multiple testing ( p = .01, Δ R 2 = 0.06 in congruent conditions; p = .04, Δ R 2 = 0.04 in combined conditions). In addition, the significant interaction between SES and COMT rs4680 polymorphism was also found in the present study ( p = .01, Δ R 2 = 0.05 in congruent conditions; p = .05, Δ R 2 = 0.03 in combined conditions). No sex differences were found in the present sample. The findings of the present study expand our knowledge about the gene × environment underpinnings of children's attentional control and endogenous brain function, and provide evidence for the Vantage Sensitivity model on children's development.