Cited by 100Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Genetic Overlap between Evoked Frontocentral Theta-Band Phase Variability, Reaction Time Variability, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in a Twin Study

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McLoughlin, Gráinne, Palmer, Jason A., Rijsdijk, Fruhling, Makeig, Scott·2014·Biological Psychiatry

Abstract

Background Electrophysiological and hemodynamic activity is altered in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during tasks requiring cognitive control. Frontal midline theta oscillations are a cortical correlate of cognitive control influencing behavioral outcomes including reaction times. Reaction time variability (RTV) is consistently increased in ADHD and is known to share genetic effects with the disorder. The etiological relationship between the cognitive control system, RTV, and ADHD is unknown. In a sample of twins selected for ADHD and matched control subjects, we aimed to quantify the strength of the phenotypic, genetic, and environmental relationships between event-related midline theta oscillations, RTV, and ADHD. Methods Our sample included 134 participants aged 12 to 15 years: 67 twin pairs (34 monozygotic; 33 dizygotic) with concordance or discordance for ADHD symptomatology assessed at 8, 10, and 12 years of age. Our main outcome measures were frontal midline theta activity, derived from both channel and source decomposed electroencephalographic data, and behavioral performance on a response-choice arrow flanker task known to elicit theta activity. Results Variability in stimulus event-related theta phase from frontal midline cortex is strongly related to both RTV and ADHD, both phenotypically and genetically. Conclusions This is the first finding to confirm the genetic link between the frontal midline cognitive control system and ADHD and the first to identify a genetically related neurophysiological marker of RTV in ADHD. Variability in the timing of the theta signal in ADHD may be part of a dysfunctional brain network that impairs regulation of task-relevant responses in the disorder.

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Authors
McLoughlin, G., Palmer, J. A., Rijsdijk, F., & Makeig, S.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience (US)
Corresponding author
McLoughlin, Gráinne
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-02
Volume
75
Issue
3
Pages
238-247
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2162454311
Cited by
100
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 1
FWCI
7.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS047293)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reaction time variability, cognitive control, genetic overlap, monozygotic and dizygotic twins, source decomposition, neurophysiological markers, adolescent ADHD
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Models, Genetic, Neuropsychological Tests, Phenotype, Photic Stimulation, Reaction Time, Regression Analysis, Theta Rhythm, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Cohort Studies

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