Insights into the molecular genetic basis of individual differences in metacognition.

Mirko Lehmann, Thomas Plieger, Martin Reuter, Ulrich Ettinger

Physiology & behavior 2023 May 15

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There is a striking lack of studies on the molecular genetic basis of metacognition, i.e., the higher-order ability to monitor mental processes. Here, an initial step toward resolving this issue was undertaken by investigating functional polymorphisms from three genes of the dopaminergic or serotonergic systems (DRD4, COMT, and 5-HTTLPR) in relation to behaviorally assessed metacognition in six paradigms across three cognitive domains. We report evidence for a task-dependent higher average confidence level (metacognitive bias) in carriers of at least one S or LG-allele in the 5-HTTLPR genotype and integrate these findings within a differential susceptibility framework. Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Mirko Lehmann, Thomas Plieger, Martin Reuter, Ulrich Ettinger. Insights into the molecular genetic basis of individual differences in metacognition. Physiology & behavior. 2023 May 15;264:114139