Gender Differences of Neuroanatomical and Neurophysiological Correlates of Risk-proneness in Early Adolescents

Texas Tech University8 enrolled

Overview

Risk-taking in early adolescence have has been found to be normative and even formative as it might fulfill the youth's needs to experiment different sensations, make independent decisions and learn from their consequences. Several theoretical models have suggested that male and female adolescents differ in risk-taking as a product of individual/contextual factors and neocortical functioning; however, the neurophysiological and neuropsychological correlates of those differences continue to be underexplored. Informed by Evolutionary Neuroandrogenic Theory, the investigators examine the links between gender, risk-proneness, gratification delay, self-control, self-efficacy, executive functions and neurophysiological-neuroanatomical correlates in early adolescents (age 10-12 years). Participants (N=24; 50% females) will complete behavioral measurements on study constructs and perform neuropsychological tests using fMRI scanning (e.g., Go/NoGo continuous performance, stop-signal reaction time, NIH Cognition Battery, delay discounting). Female and male groups will be compared on all outcome measures.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Gender Early Adolescent Behavior

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 10 YearsMax age: 12 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Early adolescents (age 10-12 years) * Male and female Exclusion Criteria: * Gross impairment of vision or hearing that would prevent the participants from performing neuropsychological tasks * Inability to read and follow written instructions * WISC-V IQ score of \< 80 * Physical, neurological or concurrent psychiatric impairments that could affect cognitive and motor functions * Regular intake of medication that could alter visual, auditory, cognitive or motor functions * History of head injury that resulted in loss of consciousness / history of brain surgery * Current / past history of smoking and / or alcohol or drug abuse * Absolute contraindications to undergo MRI

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Female vs. Male differences of fMRI BOLD responses for SSRT Stop Signals

Female vs. male differences of functional magnetic resonance imaging reactivity of the whole brain while performing a Stop Signal Reaction Time Task

Time frame: Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure.

Female vs. Male differences of fMRI BOLD responses in a Go-NoGo CPT

Female vs. male differences of functional magnetic resonance imaging reactivity of the whole brain while performing a Go-NoGo Continuous Performance Task

Female vs. Male differences of brain structural connectivity

Female vs. male differences of brain structural connectivity as measured by diffusion tensor imaging and analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics

Female vs. Male differences of brain structure

Female vs. male differences of brain structure as determined by voxel based morphometry of structural magnetic resonance imaging data

Secondary Outcomes

Female vs. male differences in delay discounting

Female vs. male differences in delay discounting as measures using a delay discounting task presented on a laptop computer

Female vs. male differences in stop signal delay

Female vs. male differences in stop signal delay of a stop signal reaction time task performed in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner

Female vs. male differences in reaction times of correct Go responses

Female vs. male differences in reaction times of correct Go responses performed in a Go-NoGo continuous performance task performed in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner

Female vs. male differences in commission errors in a Go-NoGo CPT

Female vs. male differences commission errors in a Go-NoGo continuous performance task performed in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner

Female vs. male differences in Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test

Female vs. male differences in Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery

Female vs. male differences in Dimensional Change Card Sort Test

Female vs. male differences in Dimensional Change Card Sort Test of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery

Female vs. male differences in Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test

Female vs. male differences in Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery

Female vs. male differences in risk-proneness

Female vs. male differences in risk-proneness as measured by Impulsive Sensation Seeking Scale adapted by Raffaelli and Crocket (2003)

Female vs. male differences in sensation seeking

Female vs. male differences in Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) developed by Hoyle et al (2002)

Female vs. male differences in gratification delay

Female vs. male differences in abbreviated 10 item Delayed Gratification Inventory (DGI-10) by Romer, Duckworth, Sznitman, \& Park (2010)

Female vs. male differences in self-control

Female vs. male differences in Perrone, Sullivan, Pratt, \& Margaryan (2004) measure of self -control adapted from the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (ADD Health)

Female vs. male differences in self-efficacy

Female vs. male differences in General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) developed by Schwarzer \& Jerusalem (1995)