Executive Functions and Self-Regulation: A Twin Study

描述（由申请人提供）：在这一竞争性更新中，我们建议通过以下方式扩展我们对执行功能（EFs）个体差异的双胞胎研究：(1)首次评估从青春期到青年期过渡期间执行功能稳定性和变化的遗传和环境贡献；(2)首次研究了成年早期自我调节能力在三个领域的相互关系，以及这些自我调节能力个体差异的遗传和环境病因；(3)首次对成年早期ef与自我调节的关系进行行为遗传学研究。通过重新测试参与者用于构建当前评估的三种ef的潜在变量测量（抑制，更新和转移）的任务，我们将能够验证ef的稳定特征变异是遗传决定的假设，而变化（例如下降）是受环境影响的，例如受药物使用。我们还将利用一系列自我调节措施的理论数据，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，以及成年早期这些自我调节能力个体差异的遗传和环境病因。最后，我们将使用三个电磁场的测量，以及另外两个电磁场（抵抗主动干扰和双重任务）的数据来检查这些电磁场与三个自我调节领域的关系。为了实现这些目标，我们将重新评估从婴儿期开始参加科罗拉多纵向双胞胎研究（LTS）的214对同卵双胞胎和193对异卵双胞胎中814对双胞胎的三个EFs。在第一个资助期，我们现在已经测试了698对年龄在16.5-19岁之间的双胞胎，比我们最初的目标650多了48对，在免费延长期间，我们将尝试测试额外的116对双胞胎。根据我们的磨损假设，我们预计在第一波和第二波（21至23岁）测试的最终样本为365对。我们将使用表型因子分析和多变量遗传和环境结构方程模型来解决这三个具体目标。

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.