Trans-ancestry meta-analysis of genome wide association studies of inhibitory control

GenomicSEM Modelling of Diverse Executive Function GWAS Improves Gene Discovery

Previous research has supported the use of latent variables as the gold-standard in measuring executive function. However, for logistical reasons genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of executive function have largely eschewed latent variables in favour of singular task measures. As low correlations have traditionally been found between individual executive function (EF) tests, it is unclear whether these GWAS have truly been measuring the same construct. In this study, we addressed this question by performing a factor analysis on summary statistics from eleven GWAS of EF taken from five studies, using GenomicSEM. Models demonstrated a bifactor structure consistent with previous research, with factors capturing common EF and working memory- specific variance. Furthermore, the GWAS performed on this model identified 20 new genomic risk loci for common EF and 4 for working memory reaching genome-wide significance beyond what was found in the constituent GWAS, together resulting in 29 newly mapped EF genes. These results help to clarify the underlying genetic structure of EF and support the idea that EF GWAS are capable of measuring genetic variance related to latent EF constructs even when not using factor scores. Furthermore, they demonstrate that GenomicSEM can combine GWAS with divergent and non-ideal measures of the same phenotype to improve statistical power.

Molecular genetic influences on attentional control and other executive processes and their links with psychopathology in the AFFECT study

Background

Attentional control is a critical component of executive functioning involved in numerous psychiatric and neurological disorders, yet its etiological relationships with many cognitive and behavioral phenotypes remain underexplored.

Methods

We conducted the first multivariate characterization of molecular genetic influences on attentional control and other executive processes in a cohort of more than 20,000 individuals enriched for mood disorders. We used Genomic Structural Equation Modeling to formally model patterns of genetic covariance among these task-based measures of cognition, as well as their relationships with other cognitive, clinical, and imaging-derived phenotypes.

Results

We identified two independent latent genetic factors: one broadly influencing executive function and one narrowly influencing attentional control. Both the Common Executive Function (CEF) and Attentional Control (AC) factors were genetically correlated with cognitive and clinical phenotypes, with each latent factor uniquely linked to liability for psychiatric disorders. For example, we observed myriad relationships between the factors and psychopathology, including robust and conditionally independent genetic associations with ADHD. However, despite clear links to brain-related phenotypes, genetic correlations with imaging-derived phenotypes themselves were modest and non-significant after correcting for multiple comparisons.

Conclusions

Overall, the results of our study suggest that genetic influences on attentional control are generally distinct from those that influence broader aspects of executive function. The CEF and AC factors show distinct patterns of genetic overlap with multiple cognitive and psychiatric outcomes, underscoring the need for more detailed phenotyping of cognition to generate new insights into the etiology of psychopathology.

The trajectory of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and its dynamic relationship with inhibitory control

BACKGROUND

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood, characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Impaired inhibitory control is observed in the majority of individuals with ADHD. Understanding the relationship between inhibitory control and the developmental trajectory of ADHD is essential for informing clinical prognosis and guiding early interventions.

METHODS

We utilized Latent Growth Curve Modeling (LGCM) to map the developmental course of ADHD symptoms using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. Concurrently, we examined the longitudinal correlation between inhibitory control and ADHD symptoms at corresponding time points. Additionally, a Bivariate Latent Change Score Model (BLCSM) was employed to investigate the relationship between changes in inhibitory control and ADHD symptoms. We also integrated Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) into the LGCM as predictors to explore the impact of genetic factors associated with inhibitory control and ADHD on the trajectory of ADHD symptoms.

RESULTS

The LGCM analysis demonstrated that baseline inhibitory control influenced both the initial state and the rate of change of ADHD symptoms. Inhibitory control exhibited both concurrent and prospective associations with ADHD symptoms. Notably, the BLCSM revealed that changes in inhibitory control could predict future changes in ADHD symptoms, and vice versa. Dynamic changes in inhibitory control were found to affect future changes in ADHD symptoms. Additionally, the PRS for inhibitory control and ADHD were significantly linked to the initial state and rate of change of ADHD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore a sustained correlation between inhibitory control and ADHD symptoms, highlighting the critical association between inhibitory control and the developmental trajectory of ADHD in children. Furthermore, the predictive value of inhibitory control for ADHD suggests a new avenue for early intervention, potentially improving the prognosis for ADHD patients.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on inhibitory control in first-episode schizophrenia: behavioral and neural mechanisms

Background

Inhibitory control deficits are a core feature of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, associated with abnormal activation of key brain networks. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may help improve inhibitory control, but its specific effects in schizophrenia remain uncertain.

Methods

This study involved 150 participants divided into Real-rTMS, Sham-rTMS, and healthy control groups. Inhibitory control was assessed using the dual-choice oddball task, and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to examine neural activity. The Real-rTMS group received active stimulation over the DLPFC, and the Sham group received placebo stimulation.

Results

The Real-rTMS group exhibited significant improvements in both reaction times and accuracy compared to the Sham group, indicating enhanced inhibitory control. fMRI data showed that brain activity in regions such as the cerebellum, insula, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex was normalized in the Real-rTMS group, with activation patterns closely resembling those observed in healthy controls. Additionally, task-based fMRI revealed a restoration and further enhancement of negative activation in regions like the middle frontal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus, which helped reduce cognitive interference from irrelevant stimuli.

Conclusion

rTMS targeting the DLPFC improves inhibitory control in schizophrenia by modulating both positive and negative brain activation patterns. These findings highlight the dual mechanism through which rTMS enhances cognitive control, offering a promising intervention for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Future research should explore the long-term effects of this modulation on broader cognitive functions.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and post-GWAS analyses of impulsivity: A systematic review

Impulsivity is related to a host of mental and behavioral problems. It is a complex construct with many different manifestations, most of which are heritable. The genetic compositions of these impulsivity manifestations, however, remain unclear. A number of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and post-GWAS analyses have tried to address this issue. We conducted a systematic review of all GWAS and post-GWAS analyses of impulsivity published up to December 2023. Available data suggest that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in more than a dozen of genes (e.g., CADM2, CTNNA2, GPM6B) are associated with different measures of impulsivity at genome-wide significant levels. Post-GWAS analyses further show that different measures of impulsivity are subject to different degrees of genetic influence, share few genetic variants, and have divergent genetic overlap with basic personality traits such as extroversion and neuroticism, cognitive ability, psychiatric disorders, substance use, and obesity. These findings shed light on controversies in the conceptualization and measurement of impulsivity, while providing new insights on the underlying mechanisms that yoke impulsivity to psychopathology.

Novel genetic loci of inhibitory control in ADHD and healthy children and genetic correlations with ADHD

Cumulative evidence has showed the deficits of inhibitory control in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is considered as an endophenotype of ADHD. Genetic study of inhibitory control could advance gene discovery and further facilitate the understanding of ADHD genetic basis, but the studies were limited in both the general population and ADHD patients. To reveal genetic risk variants of inhibitory control and its potential genetic relationship with ADHD, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on inhibitory control using three datasets, which included 783 and 957 ADHD patients and 1350 healthy children. Subsequently, we employed polygenic risk scores (PRS) to explore the association of inhibitory control with ADHD and related psychiatric disorders. Firstly, we identified three significant loci for inhibitory control in the healthy dataset, two loci in the case dataset, and one locus in the meta-analysis of three datasets. Besides, we found more risk genes and variants by applying transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and conditional FDR method. Then, we constructed a network by connecting the genes identified in our study, leading to the identification of several vital genes. Lastly, we identified a potential relationship between inhibitory control and ADHD and autism by PRS analysis and found the direct and mediated contribution of the identified genetic loci on ADHD symptoms by mediation analysis. In conclusion, we revealed some genetic risk variants associated with inhibitory control and elucidated the benefit of inhibitory control as an endophenotype, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying ADHD.

Fifty years of executive control research in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder:What we have learned and still need to know

For 50 years, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been considered a disorder of executive control (EC), the higher-order, cognitive skills that support self-regulation, goal attainment and what we generally call "attention." This review surveys our current understanding of the nature of EC as it pertains to ADHD and considers the evidence in support of eight hypotheses that can be derived from the EC theory of ADHD. This paper provides a resource for practitioners to aid in clinical decision-making. To support theory building, I draw a parallel between the EC theory of ADHD and the common gene-common variant model of complex traits such as ADHD. The conclusion offers strategies for advancing collaborative research.