The catechol-O-methyltransferase polymorphism: Relations to the tonic-phasic dopamine hypothesis and neuropsychiatric phenotypes

Diverse phenotypic associations with the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphism have been reported. We suggest that some of the complex effects of this polymorphism be understood from the perspective of the tonic-phasic dopamine (DA) hypothesis. We hypothesize that the COMT Met allele (associated with low enzyme activity) results in increased levels of tonic DA and reciprocal reductions in phasic DA in subcortical regions and increased D1 transmission cortically. This pattern of effects is hypothesized to yield increased stability but decreased flexibility of neural network activation states that underlie important aspects of working memory and executive functions; these effects may be beneficial or detrimental depending on the phenotype, a range of endogenous factors, and environmental exigencies. The literature on phenotypic associations of the COMT Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphism is reviewed, highlighting areas where this hypothesis may have explanatory value, and pointing to possible directions for refinement of relevant phenotypes and experimental evaluation of this hypothesis.