Genetic variation in dopamine availability modulates the self-reported level of action control in a sex-dependent manner

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Caroline Schlüter - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Larissa Arning - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Christoph Fraenz - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Patrick Friedrich - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Marlies Pinnow - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Onur Güntürkün - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Christian Beste - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Fakultät Psychologie (Autor:in)
  • Sebastian Ocklenburg - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Erhan Genc - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)

Abstract

Although procrastination is a widespread phenomenon with significant influence on our personal and professional life, its genetic foundation is somewhat unknown. An important factor that influences our ability to tackle specific goals directly instead of putting them off is our ability to initiate cognitive, motivational and emotional control mechanisms, so-called metacontrol. These metacontrol mechanisms have been frequently related to dopaminergic signaling. To gain deeper insight into the genetic components of procrastination, we examined whether genetically induced differences in the dopaminergic system are associated with interindividual differences in trait-like procrastination, measured as decision-related action control (AOD). Analyzing the data of 278 healthy adults, we found a sex-dependent effect of TH genotype on AOD. Interestingly, only in women, T-allele carriers showed lower AOD values and were therefore more likely to procrastinate. Additionally, we investigated whether differences in the morphology and functional connectivity of the amygdala that were previously associated with AOD happen to be related to differences in the TH genotype and thus to differences in the dopaminergic system. However, there was no significant amygdala volume or connectivity difference between the TH genotype groups. Therefore, this study is the first to suggest that genetic, anatomical and functional differences affect trait-like procrastination independently.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)759-768
Seitenumfang10
FachzeitschriftSocial cognitive and affective neuroscience
Jahrgang14
Ausgabenummer7
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 3 Juli 2019
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 31269206
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952602

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • action control, dopamine, sex differences, structural and functional MRI, TH genotype