The development of executive functions (EF) is shaped by both genetic and environmental factors, including cultural background. Genetically, variation in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism has been linked to EF performance and differential regulation of prefrontal cortex activity. Based on the gene–culture interaction framework, we tested whether culture would moderate the association between the COMT gene and young children's behavioral responses and neural activities during a cognitive-shifting EF task. The children who participated in this study were 5- to 6-year-olds in Japan (n = 44) and in the U.S. (n = 47). The results revealed that U.S.-American children exhibited stronger activations than Japanese children in the right dorsolateral and bilateral prefrontal cortex regions. In addition, the children's genetic disposition and EF performance were marginally moderated by culture, with Val homozygote Japanese children performing better than Met-allele carriers, whereas no such differences were found in U.S.-American children. We have discussed the theoretical and empirical implications of the construction of a more complete understanding of EF development by incorporating both genetic and socio-cultural factors.

中文翻译：

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文化和 COMT Val58Met 基因对执行功能神经基础的作用：日本和美国儿童的比较

执行功能 (EF) 的发展受遗传和环境因素的影响，包括文化背景。在遗传上，儿茶酚-O-甲基转移酶 ( COMT ) 基因多态性的变异与 EF 性能和前额叶皮层活动的差异调节有关。基于基因-文化交互框架，我们测试了在认知转换 EF 任务期间，文化是否会调节 COMT 基因与幼儿的行为反应和神经活动之间的关联。参与这项研究的儿童是日本（n  = 44）和美国（n = 47)。结果显示，美国儿童在右侧背外侧和双侧前额叶皮层区域表现出比日本儿童更强的激活。此外，儿童的遗传倾向和 EF 表现受到文化的轻微影响，Val 纯合子日本儿童的表现优于 Met 等位基因携带者，而在美国儿童中没有发现这种差异。我们已经讨论了通过结合遗传和社会文化因素来构建对 EF 发展的更完整理解的理论和实证意义。