UNASSIGNED: The @entity5549 gene modulates @entity935 levels in prefrontal cortex with Met allele carriers having lower @entity5549 enzyme activity and, therefore, higher @entity935 levels compared to @entity2596 / @entity2596 homozygotes. Concordantly, @entity2596 / @entity2596 homozygotes tend to perform worse and display increased (interpreted as inefficient) frontal activation in certain cognitive tasks. In a sample of 209 @entity1 , we test the hypothesis that Met carriers will be advantaged in a decision-making task that demands sequencing exploratory and exploitive choices to minimize uncertainty about the reward structure in the environment. Previous work suggests that optimal performance depends on limited cognitive resources supported by prefrontal systems. If so, Met carriers should outperform @entity2596 / @entity2596 homozygotes, particularly under dual-task conditions that tax limited cognitive resources. In accord with these a priori predictions, Met carriers were more resilient in the face of cognitive load, continuing to explore in a sophisticated manner. We fit computational models that embody sophisticated reflective and simple reflexive strategies to further evaluate @entity1 ' exploration behavior. The Ideal Actor model reflectively updates beliefs and plans ahead, taking into account the information gained by each choice and making choices that maximize long-term payoffs. In contrast, the Na  ve Reinforcement Learning (RL) model instantiates the reflexive account of choice, in which the values of actions are based only on the rewards experienced so far. Its beliefs are updated reflexively in response to observed changes in rewards. Converging with standard analyses, Met carriers were best characterized by the Ideal Actor model, whereas @entity2596 / @entity2596 homozygotes were best characterized by the Naive RL model, particularly under dual-task conditions.

A frontal XXXX system for reflective exploratory behavior.

@entity935 :: ('MESH:D004298', 'Chemical') :: ['dopamine'] @entity2596 :: ('CHEBI:16414', 'Chemical') :: ['Val'] @entity5549 :: ('1312', 'Gene') :: ['COMT'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants']
@entity935 :: (MESH:D004298,Chemical) :: ['dopamine']
