The overall goal of this application for an Independent Scientist Award (K02) is to support the continuing development of the candidate as an independent scientist and facilitate the candidate's interdisciplinary research program aimed at a better understanding the determinants and consequences of substance use disorders (SUD). Genetic influences on the liability to addiction are well documented, however, neurobiological mechanisms by which genetic factors contribute to addictive behaviors remain poorly understood. The candidate's major theoretical premise is that genetically transmitted deficits in inhibitory self regulation of behavior constitute a core component of addiction vulnerability. The candidate's research using quantitative EEG and event-related brain potentials (ERPs) has identified a number of heritable neurophysiological indicators of behavioral regulation, however, limited spatial resolution of electrophysiology methods impedes the identification of the underlying neural substrates. Accordingly, the candidate's first career objective is to gain expertise in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques through formal coursework, hands-on training, and developing collaborative projects with neuroimaging researchers at Washington University. The second career objective is to increase the candidate's expertise in advanced methods for the analysis of genetically informative longitudinal data such as latent growth and latent class transition modeling. The research plan draws upon the candidate's ongoing studies of adolescent and young adult twins. Specific research aims are: 1) to identify neurocognitive endophenotypes for addiction and establish their commonality versus specificity and their ability to prospectively predict substance use and abuse;2) to better characterize neural substrates of inhibitory self-regulation of behavior by adding functional neuroimaging assessments to the PI's ongoing studies and integrating genetic, fMRI, and ERP data;3) to provide a functional validation of genetic variants implicated in addiction vulnerability using a combination of EEG, ERPs, functional MRI, neuropsychological testing, and diagnostic assessments. In the long run, establishing the links between genes, brain function, and inhibitory control of behavior will lead to a better understanding of the pathways to addiction and identify targets for prevention and treatment efforts.

Public Health Relevance

Research has documented the role of genetic factors in addictions, but very little is known about how genes exert their influence'on complex behaviors. Investigating the neurobiological pathways and cognitive processes mediating genetic influences on behavior will lead to a better understanding of the pathways to addiction and identify targets for prevention and treatment efforts.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02DA027096-03
Application #
8104236
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Gordon, Harold
Project Start
2009-07-15
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$117,652
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Zohar, Ada H; Zwir, Igor; Wang, Jiayu et al. (2018) The development of temperament and character during adolescence: The processes and phases of change. Dev Psychopathol :1-17
Sysoeva, Olga V; Constantino, John N; Anokhin, Andrey P (2018) Event-related potential (ERP) correlates of face processing in verbal children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their first-degree relatives: a family study. Mol Autism 9:41
Golosheykin, Simon; Grant, Julia D; Novak, Olga V et al. (2017) Genetic influences on heart rate variability. Int J Psychophysiol 115:65-73
Demiral, ?ükrü Bar??; Golosheykin, Simon; Anokhin, Andrey P (2017) Genetic influences on functional connectivity associated with feedback processing and prediction error: Phase coupling of theta-band oscillations in twins. Int J Psychophysiol 115:133-141
Anokhin, Andrey P; Golosheykin, Simon; Grant, Julia D et al. (2017) Heritability of brain activity related to response inhibition: A longitudinal genetic study in adolescent twins. Int J Psychophysiol 115:112-124
Müller, Viktor; Anokhin, Andrey P; Lindenberger, Ulman (2017) Genetic influences on phase synchrony of brain oscillations supporting response inhibition. Int J Psychophysiol 115:125-132
Pagliaccio, David; Luking, Katherine R; Anokhin, Andrey P et al. (2016) Revising the BIS/BAS Scale to study development: Measurement invariance and normative effects of age and sex from childhood through adulthood. Psychol Assess 28:429-42
Peng, Chun-Zi; Grant, Julia D; Heath, Andrew C et al. (2016) Familial influences on the full range of variability in attention and activity levels during adolescence: A longitudinal twin study. Dev Psychopathol 28:517-26
Anokhin, Andrey P; Golosheykin, Simon; Mulligan, Richard C (2015) Long-term test-retest reliability of delayed reward discounting in adolescents. Behav Processes 111:55-9
Anokhin, Andrey P; Golosheykin, Simon (2015) Neural correlates of error monitoring in adolescents prospectively predict initiation of tobacco use. Dev Cogn Neurosci 16:166-173

Showing the most recent 10 out of 17 publications