Publications [#300109] of Timothy J. Strauman

Journal Articles

1. Goetz, EL; Hariri, AR; Pizzagalli, DA; Strauman, TJ (2013). Genetic moderation of the association between regulatory focus and reward responsiveness: a proof-of-concept study.. Biology of mood & anxiety disorders, 3(1), 3. [23369671], [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/06/16)

   Abstract:
   

   Unlabelled

   Background

   Recent studies implicate individual differences in regulatory focus as contributing to self-regulatory dysfunction, particularly not responding to positive outcomes. How such individual differences emerge, however, is unclear. We conducted a proof-of-concept study to examine the moderating effects of genetically driven variation in dopamine signaling, a key modulator of neural reward circuits, on the association between regulatory focus and reward cue responsiveness.

   Method

   Healthy Caucasians (N=59) completed a measure of chronic regulatory focus and a probabilistic reward task. A common functional genetic polymorphism impacting prefrontal dopamine signaling (COMT rs4680) was evaluated.

   Results

   Response bias, the participants' propensity to modulate behavior as a function of reward, was predicted by an interaction of regulatory focus and COMT genotype. Specifically, self-perceived success at achieving promotion goals predicted total response bias, but only for individuals with the COMT genotype (Val/Val) associated with relatively increased phasic dopamine signaling and cognitive flexibility.

   Conclusions

   The combination of success in promotion goal pursuit and Val/Val genotype appears to facilitate responding to reward opportunities in the environment. This study is among the first to integrate an assessment of self-regulatory style with an examination of genetic variability that underlies responsiveness to positive outcomes in goal pursuit.