Dissociable Genetic Influences on Continuous Performance Task Indices Open Access

Abstract

Abstract

Dissociable Genetic Influences on Continuous Performance Task Indices

By Yunsoo Park

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex, heritable childhood disorder with unclear etiology. Numerous dopaminergic candidate genes, including COMT and DAT1, have been examined for association with ADHD, but have yielded inconclusive findings. Instead of manifest diagnoses or symptoms, using endophenotypes may provide stronger, more replicable results. Deficits in executive functions (EFs) have been proposed as putative endophenotypes for ADHD, given that individuals with ADHD are impaired on various neurocognitive measures, including the Continuous Performance Task (CPT), a widely-used measure of sustained attention and impulsivity. Distinct indices of CPT performance (i.e., omission and commission errors, sensitivity, and response bias) have shown associations with COMT and DAT1, but there have been no studies examining genetic influences on the trajectories of these indices over time (i.e., across blocks). In this study we investigated the association between AX-CPT indices (considering overall performance and performance across blocks) and the COMT val^108/158met polymorphism and the DAT1 40 bp 3' UTR VNTR polymorphism in a clinically-referred sample of children (N = 332). We found a marginally significant association between COMT and commission errors and sensitivity, a marginally significant association between DAT1 and response bias, and a significant association between DAT1 and commission errors. We found no significant genotype differences in CPT indices across blocks. Our findings provide support for the influence of COMT and DAT1 on distinct CPT indices, but do not suggest effects of either gene in performance across blocks. Further research is needed to elucidate genetic influences on CPT performance, particularly regarding trajectories across time.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

General Introduction 1

Method 6

Participants 6

Genotyping 7

Measures 8

Procedures 9

Quality Control Analyses 9

Data analyses 9

Results 11

Discussion 14

References 20

Tables 37

Figures 40

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Psychology
Degree	MA
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Clinical
Keyword	Continuous Performance Task COMT dopaminergic genes AX-CPT DAT1 CPT
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Waldman, Irwin, Emory University
Committee Members	Manns, Joseph, Emory University Hamann, Stephan, Emory University

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