Year: 2023
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Aims: This study aims to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between externalising and performance measures of neurobiological responses to experimental reward processing paradigms (the Monetary Incentive Delay and Stop Signal Task). / \n \nMethods: Secondary data from the ABCD Study was used in mixed effects linear regression models. At baseline, participants were aged 9-10 years old, and at follow-up, participants were 11-12 years old (n=4558, 47.13% female, 60.55% White). The externalising subscale of the Child Behavioural Checklist measured externalising. Based on prior research, regions of interest were selected, and beta-weights from contrasts of different task conditions (e.g. anticipation of reward vs no reward) were employed as measures of brain activation. Behavioural outcomes were calculated based on task response. Measures of socioeconomic status, sex, pubertal development and intelligence were also included in analyses. / \n \nResults: Findings indicate that there are neurobiological associations between ROI activation in response to reward processing tasks and current and future externalising. Externalising was associated with faster and less accurate behavioural responses; distinct patterns of activation in response to the anticipation of and loss of reward, and error processing and response inhibition. / \n \nConclusion: This study provides evidence of the role of neurobiological mechanisms in the development of externalising behaviour. These relationships are complex and further study is required. Other mechanisms (socioeconomic status, sex, pubertal development and intelligence) were also found to significantly affect future externalising. There are clear implications for the understanding of externalising, including for future research and implications for possible interventions in the future.
Author: Smith, Eilidh Mackenzie
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7002510473