This project will examine the underlying factor structure of impulsive behaviors, and investigate the genetic basis of impulsive behaviors in healthy human volunteers. Impulsive behaviors are strongly implicated in risk for drug abuse, and are thought to be determined in part by genetic factors. Here, the investigators will examine the two main components of impulsive behavior: Impulsive Choice (maladaptive decision-making) and Impulsive Action (i.e., behavioral inhibition) using standardized behavioral tasks. They will empirically derive constructs based on subjects'performance on the tasks, and then examine polymorphisms in genes thought to contribute to variations in the constructs. The investigators will focus on genes that affect function of the dopamine system. The project addresses an urgent need to define behaviorally the underlying components of impulsivity, and to identify genetic factors that influence variability. The findings will help us understand impulsive behaviors, which are key risk factors, or intermediate phenotypes, for drug use. First, we will phenotype healthy unrelated young adults (N=1,000) on carefully selected behavioral measures of Impulsive Choice and Impulsive Action, and identify the factors comprising these heterogeneous behaviors. Participants will be tested twice for maximum reliability, and we will use factor analysis to identify the underlying latent factors. Second, we will examine associations between the derived factors and genetic variation in dopamine and other selected genotypes, in three levels of analysis. Using a candidate gene approach, we will focus on polymorphisms in selected genes related specifically to dopamine function. We hypothesize that genotypes resulting in low dopamine function will be associated with higher impulsive behaviors. Using a pathway-based approach, we will investigate polymorphisms in a larger set of genes of interest based on the published literature. Finally, using a hypothesis-free approach, we will examine ~1 million polymorphisms that will survey all the genes in the genome. Thus, we will include both hypothesis testing and exploratory approaches to comprehensively examine the genetic basis of impulsivity. The project is significant because it will advance understanding of impulsive behavior and its genetic underpinnings, which has direct relevance to risk for substance abuse. The study is innovative because it combines rigorous behavioral analysis with multi-level genetic analysis.

Public Health Relevance

One of the primary risk factors for developing problems related to drug use and abuse is impulsivity. Individuals who have difficulty either exerting self-control in decision-making situations, or inhibiting inappropriate behaviors, are more likely to experiment with drugs and progress to excessive use. In this project we will investigate the genetic basis of these impulsive behaviors. Healthy volunteers will complete validated tasks measuring different forms of impulsive behaviors, and their performance will then be examined in relation to selected genes thought to control these behaviors. This study will help us to understand the underlying factor structure of impulsive behavior, and the degree to which genetic factors contribute to these behaviors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA032015-02
Application #
8300787
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Intervention for Addictions Study Section (RPIA)
Program Officer
Gordon, Harold
Project Start
2011-07-15
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$467,166
Indirect Cost
$164,582
Name
University of Chicago
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005421136
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637
Gray, Joshua C; MacKillop, James; Weafer, Jessica et al. (2018) Genetic analysis of impulsive personality traits: Examination of a priori candidates and genome-wide variation. Psychiatry Res 259:398-404
Weafer, Jessica; Gray, Joshua C; Hernandez, Kyle et al. (2017) Hierarchical investigation of genetic influences on response inhibition in healthy young adults. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 25:512-520
MacKillop, James; Munafò, Marcus R (2017) Commentary: Delay discounting and smoking: robust correlation, but uncertain causation. Int J Epidemiol 46:870-871
Bidwell, L Cinnamon; Gray, Joshua C; Weafer, Jessica et al. (2017) Genetic influences on ADHD symptom dimensions: Examination of a priori candidates, gene-based tests, genome-wide variation, and SNP heritability. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 174:458-466
Jackson, Jacob N S; MacKillop, James (2016) Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Monetary Delay Discounting: A Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging 1:316-325
Mayo, Leah M; de Wit, Harriet (2016) Acquisition of Conditioned Responses to a Novel Alcohol-Paired Cue in Social Drinkers. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 77:317-26
MacKillop, James (2016) The Behavioral Economics and Neuroeconomics of Alcohol Use Disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 40:672-85
MacKillop, James; Weafer, Jessica; C Gray, Joshua et al. (2016) The latent structure of impulsivity: impulsive choice, impulsive action, and impulsive personality traits. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 233:3361-70
VanderBroek, Lauren; Acker, John; Palmer, Abraham A et al. (2016) Interrelationships among parental family history of substance misuse, delay discounting, and personal substance use. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 233:39-48
Gray, Joshua C; Amlung, Michael T; Palmer, Abraham A et al. (2016) Syntax for calculation of discounting indices from the monetary choice questionnaire and probability discounting questionnaire. J Exp Anal Behav 106:156-63

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