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

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Caroline Schlüter - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Larissa Arning - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Christoph Fraenz - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Patrick Friedrich - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Marlies Pinnow - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Onur Güntürkün - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Christian Beste - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology (Author)
  • Sebastian Ocklenburg - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Erhan Genc - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)

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

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)759-768
Number of pages10
JournalSocial cognitive and affective neuroscience
Volume14
Issue number7
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jul 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

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

Keywords

Keywords

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