Executive Functions and Self-Regulation: A Twin Study

描述(申请人提供)：在这次竞争性更新中，我们建议通过以下方式扩展我们对执行功能个体差异的双胞胎研究：(1)第一次评估遗传和环境对青春期到青年时期执行功能稳定性和变化的贡献；(2)首次研究三个领域的自我调节能力之间的关系，以及成年早期自我调节能力个体差异的遗传和环境原因；以及(3)第一次关于成年早期执行功能和自我调节能力之间关系的行为遗传学研究。通过重新测试参与者用于构建当前评估的三个EFS的潜在变量测量的任务(抑制、更新和转移)，我们将能够测试这样的假设，即EFS中稳定的性状变异是由基因决定的，而变化(例如，下降)是受环境影响的，例如受药物使用的影响。我们还将使用一系列理论上有动机的自我调节措施的数据，首次研究认知、情绪和行为三个领域的自我调节能力之间的关系，以及成年早期自我调节能力个体差异的遗传和环境原因。最后，我们将使用三个EFS的测量，以及另外两个EFS(抵抗主动干扰和双重任务)的数据来检验这些EFS与自我调节的三个领域的关系。为了实现这些目标，我们将在814对目标样本中重新评估三个EFS，这些双胞胎来自214对单合子和193对异卵对，这些双胞胎从婴儿时期就参与了科罗拉多州纵向双胞胎研究(LTS)。在第一个赠款期间，我们现在已经测试了698对16.5-19岁的双胞胎个体，比我们最初的目标650人多了48人，在免费延期期间，我们将尝试再测试116对双胞胎。根据我们的损耗假设，我们预计会有365对在第一波和第二波(年龄在21至23岁)之间进行测试的最终样本。我们将使用表型因素分析和多变量遗传和环境结构方程建模来解决三个具体目标。 与公共健康的相关性：这是一项关于青春期和成年早期认知执行功能稳定和变化的双重病因研究，以及调节自己行为的能力的个体差异。这些差异可能对心理健康和健康(如肥胖)、心理(如抑郁)和行为(如药物滥用)问题有贡献。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this competitive renewal, we propose to extend our twin study of individual differences in executive functions (EFs) by conducting the following: (1) the first assessment of genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change in EFs during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood; (2) the first study of the relations among self-regulation abilities in three domains, as well as the genetic and environmental etiologies of individual differences in these self-regulation abilities in early adulthood; and (3) the first behavioral genetic study of the relationship between EFs and self-regulation in early adulthood. By retesting participants on the tasks used to construct latent variable measures of the three EFs currently assessed (Inhibiting, Updating, and Shifting), we will be able to test the hypothesis that stable trait variance in EFs is genetically determined, while changes (e.g., declines) are environmentally influenced, for example by drug use. We will also use data from a theoretically motivated battery of self-regulation measures to conduct the first study of the relations among self-regulation abilities in three domains cognitive, emotional, and behavioral as well as the genetic and environmental etiologies of individual differences in these self- regulation abilities in early adulthood. Finally, we will use the measures of the three EFs, as well as data on two additional EFs (Resisting Proactive Interference and Dual-Tasking) to examine the relations of these EFs to the three domains of self regulation. To achieve these aims, we will re-assess the three EFs in a target sample of 814 individual twins from 214 monozygotic and 193 dizygotic pairs who have participated in the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study (LTS) since infancy. In the first grant period, we have now tested 698 individual twins ages 16.5-19 years, 48 more than our original goal of 650, and during the no-cost-extension we will attempt to test an additional 116 twins. With our attrition assumptions, we anticipate a final sample of 365 pairs tested at both Wave 1 and Wave 2 (age 21 to 23 years). We will use phenotypic factor analyses and multivariate genetic and environmental structural equation modeling to address the three specific aims. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This is a twin study of the etiologies of stability and change in cognitive executive functions during adolescence and early adulthood, together with individual differences in the ability to regulate one's own behavior. These differences may contribute to mental health generally and to health (e.g. obesity), psychological (e.g. depression), and behavioral (e.g. substance abuse) problems.