Reaction Time Variability in Children Is Specifically Associated With Attention Problems and Regional White Matter Microstructure

Thea Wiker; Linn B Norbom; Dani Beck; Ingrid Agartz; Ole A Andreassen; Dag Alnæs; Andreas Dahl; Espen M Eilertsen; Torgeir Moberget; Eivind Ystrøm; Lars T Westlye; Catherine Lebel; Rene J Huster; Christian K Tamnes

doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.03.010

Reaction Time Variability in Children Is Specifically Associated With Attention Problems and Regional White Matter Microstructure

Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2023 Aug;8(8):832-840. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.03.010. Epub 2023 Mar 30.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
³ Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm Region, Sweden.
⁴ KG Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, Pedagogy and Law, School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁷ Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁸ Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁹ Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Heath, Oslo, Norway.
¹⁰ KG Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
¹¹ Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
¹² Multimodal Imaging and Cognitive Control Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience Cluster, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Sleep Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 37003411
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.03.010

Abstract

Background: Increased intraindividual variability (IIV) in reaction times (RTs) has been suggested as a key cognitive and behavioral marker of attention problems, but findings for other dimensions of psychopathology are less consistent. Moreover, while studies have linked IIV to brain white matter microstructure, large studies testing the robustness of these associations are needed.

Methods: We used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study baseline assessment to test the associations between IIV and psychopathology (n = 8622, age = 8.9-11.1 years) and IIV and white matter microstructure (n = 7958, age = 8.9-11.1 years). IIV was investigated using an ex-Gaussian distribution analysis of RTs in correct response go trials in the stop signal task. Psychopathology was measured by the Child Behavior Checklist and a bifactor structural equation model was performed to extract a general p factor and specific factors reflecting internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems. To investigate white matter microstructure, fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were examined in 23 atlas-based tracts.

Results: Increased IIV in both short and long RTs was positively associated with the specific attention problems factor (Cohen's d = 0.13 and d = 0.15, respectively). Increased IIV in long RTs was also positively associated with radial diffusivity in the left and right corticospinal tract (both tracts, d = 0.12).

Conclusions: Using a large sample and a data-driven dimensional approach to psychopathology, the results provide novel evidence for a small but specific association between IIV and attention problems in children and support previous findings on the relevance of white matter microstructure for IIV.

Keywords: Attention problems; Diffusion MRI; Psychopathology; Reaction time; Variability; White matter.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attention
Brain / pathology
Child
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Humans
Reaction Time / physiology
White Matter* / diagnostic imaging
White Matter* / pathology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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