Project GIDeCA

Gene by Environment Interactions on Decision Making in Children with Different ADHD Symptoms

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are known to be exceedingly impulsive. For instance, they prefer receiving a small gift immediately instead of waiting for a bigger gift they will receive later on. In addition, they decide in favor of options that offer a large gain but are unlikely to be reached, rather than voting for options with a high probability for a small gain.

Different gene variants correlate with a reduced ability to delay rewards and with risky decision making. Moreover, there is evidence that psychosocial and family-related aspects have an influence on the ability to delay a reward.

We assumed that genetic as well as psychosocial and family-related factors correlate with the ability to delay rewards and risky decision-making. Furthermore, we assumed that the effects of family-related risk factors are particularly significant in individuals with a particular genetic disposition.

115 children aged between eight and twelve years participated in the study. They were assessed thoroughly by psychologists. Furthermore, saliva samples were obtained from the children for a molecular-genetic test and the parents and children worked on a task together. The ability to delay rewards and risky decision-making behavior was assessed by means of playful and partly computer-based tasks the children generally enjoy.

Selected Publication and Poster

Reinelt, T. (2015). Beyond Endophenotypes: Direct and Indirect Effects of Sustained Attention and Behavioral Inhibition on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Dissertation). Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Faculty of Science.

Reinelt, T., Wirth, A., Rauch, W., & Gawrilow, C. (2014, April). Duration Discrimination predicts delay of gratification in children with and without ADHD. Poster presented at the conference on Timing and Time Perception. Corfu, Greece. (Poster)