Background:
Impulsivity is acting 'without thinking.' Compulsivity is being overly inflexible. People vary in how impulsive or compulsive they are. Extreme versions of these behaviors play a role in mental disorders. Researchers want to study changes in the brain to learn more about these behaviors. Differences in genes may also play a role.
Objective:
To learn about genetic \& brain features that explain why levels of impulsivity and compulsivity vary across people.
Eligibility:
People ages 6 - 80
Design:
Participants will be screened with a medical history and medical record review.
Participants will talk about their mental and behavioral development. They may discuss topics like drug use and sexual activity. They will complete surveys about their compulsivity and impulsivity. Parents of child participants may also complete these surveys.
Participants may take memory, attention, and thinking tests. They may give blood or saliva samples for gene studies and they may give blood to make induced pluripotent stem cells. Participants may have their face and irises photographs taken.
Participants may have a magnetic resonance imaging scan. It will take pictures of their brain. The scanner is shaped like a cylinder. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of the scanner. A coil will be placed over their head. They will lie still, watch a movie, and play a game.
Participants may ask family members to join the study. Researchers are particularly interested in recruiting twin pairs to the study.
Participants under age 25 may repeat these tests every 1-2 years until they turn 25 or until the study ends. For those over age 25, participation will last less than 1 month.
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
Must be between 6 and 80 years of age.
Ability of participant to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
Cognitively not capable of performing study procedures or lack of capacity to provide informed consent. Indications of a lack of cognitive capacity could include a known full-scale IQ under 70, or a history from the screening interview that implies global intellectual disabilities (e.g., placement in a school for children with intellectual disability etc.)
Very premature birth (i.e., birth before 32 weeks of gestational age).
Any known brain abnormalities (e.g., tumor, periventricular leukomalacia, microcephaly) or history of medical conditions known to affect cerebral anatomy (e.g., epilepsy, history of stroke, head injury with a loss of consciousness of one hour or more).
Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia, psychosis not otherwise specified).
Individuals between 6 and 80 years of age with a wide range of impulsivity/compulsivity behaviors - ranging from normal to mildly/extremely impaired - will be recruited. No specific demographic groups will be targeted. Recruitment will be mainly done in the District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia area, however some participants might travel from elsewhere.
Cohort
Prospective
Not listed
Glutamate concentration measured using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Age-related change in cortical glutamate levels and its moderation by individual differences in levels of impulsivity and compulsivity.
Heritability of cortical glutamate (proportion of variance explained by additive genetic factors).
Degree to which glutamate levels are under genetic control.
Structural and functional connectivity
Structural and functional connectivity measured throughout development using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Glutamate levels
Glutamate measurement at 7 Tesla is now the gold standard for glutamate measurements, against which we will compare measurements at 3 Tesla.
Differences in glutamate levels and other neurodevelopmental markers within twin pairs.
Differences in twin characteristics will be measured through clinical symptom assessment, biomarkers, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, neuropsychological testing, and questionnaires.
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