Gender Differences of Neuroanatomical and Neurophysiological Correlates of Risk-proneness in Early Adolescents

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Risk-taking in early adolescence have has been found to be normative and even formative as it might fulfill the youth's needs to experiment different sensations, make independent decisions and learn from their consequences. Several theoretical models have suggested that male and female adolescents differ in risk-taking as a product of individual/contextual factors and neocortical functioning; however, the neurophysiological and neuropsychological correlates of those differences continue to be underexplored. Informed by Evolutionary Neuroandrogenic Theory, the investigators examine the links between gender, risk-proneness, gratification delay, self-control, self-efficacy, executive functions and neurophysiological-neuroanatomical correlates in early adolescents (age 10-12 years). Participants (N=24; 50% females) will complete behavioral measurements on study constructs and perform neuropsychological tests using fMRI scanning (e.g., Go/NoGo continuous performance, stop-signal reaction time, NIH Cognition Battery, delay discounting). Female and male groups will be compared on all outcome measures.

Official Title
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Gender Differences in Risk-proneness, Gratification Delay, Self-control, Self-efficacy, Executive Functions and Their Neurophysiological and Neuroanatomical Correlates in Early Adolescents

Conditions
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Gender, Early Adolescent Behavior

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: The study is an observational cross sectional study


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Early adolescents (age 10-12 years) Male and female Exclusion Criteria: Gross impairment of vision or hearing that would prevent the participants from performing neuropsychological tasks Inability to read and follow written instructions WISC-V IQ score of < 80 Physical, neurological or concurrent psychiatric impairments that could affect cognitive and motor functions Regular intake of medication that could alter visual, auditory, cognitive or motor functions History of head injury that resulted in loss of consciousness / history of brain surgery Current / past history of smoking and / or alcohol or drug abuse Absolute contraindications to undergo MRI

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 10 Years
Maximum Age: 12 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Female Early Adolescents<br> | Other: The study is an observational cross sectional study<br>* An intervention will not be performed<br>|
| Male Early Adolescents<br> | Other: The study is an observational cross sectional study<br>* An intervention will not be performed<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Female vs. Male differences of fMRI BOLD responses for SSRT Stop Signals | Female vs. male differences of functional magnetic resonance imaging reactivity of the whole brain while performing a Stop Signal Reaction Time Task | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. Male differences of fMRI BOLD responses in a Go-NoGo CPT | Female vs. male differences of functional magnetic resonance imaging reactivity of the whole brain while performing a Go-NoGo Continuous Performance Task | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. Male differences of brain structural connectivity | Female vs. male differences of brain structural connectivity as measured by diffusion tensor imaging and analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. Male differences of brain structure | Female vs. male differences of brain structure as determined by voxel based morphometry of structural magnetic resonance imaging data | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Female vs. male differences in delay discounting | Female vs. male differences in delay discounting as measures using a delay discounting task presented on a laptop computer | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in stop signal delay | Female vs. male differences in stop signal delay of a stop signal reaction time task performed in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in reaction times of correct Go responses | Female vs. male differences in reaction times of correct Go responses performed in a Go-NoGo continuous performance task performed in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in commission errors in a Go-NoGo CPT | Female vs. male differences commission errors in a Go-NoGo continuous performance task performed in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test | Female vs. male differences in Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in Dimensional Change Card Sort Test | Female vs. male differences in Dimensional Change Card Sort Test of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test | Female vs. male differences in Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in risk-proneness | Female vs. male differences in risk-proneness as measured by Impulsive Sensation Seeking Scale adapted by Raffaelli and Crocket (2003) | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in sensation seeking | Female vs. male differences in Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) developed by Hoyle et al (2002) | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in gratification delay | Female vs. male differences in abbreviated 10 item Delayed Gratification Inventory (DGI-10) by Romer, Duckworth, Sznitman, & Park (2010) | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in self-control | Female vs. male differences in Perrone, Sullivan, Pratt, & Margaryan (2004) measure of self -control adapted from the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (ADD Health) | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. | 
| Female vs. male differences in self-efficacy | Female vs. male differences in General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) developed by Schwarzer & Jerusalem (1995) | Outcome will be measured on the first study visit (day 1) of each subject. This will also be the only time point of measurement. Outcomes of all recruited subjects within the specified study period will be considered when reporting the outcome measure. |