Department of Medicine.
Department of Psychology.
J Exp Psychol Gen. 2022 Aug;151(8):1745-1761. doi: 10.1037/xge0001168. Epub 2022 Jan 6.
Much debate has concerned the separability of executive function abilities and intelligence, with some evidence that the 2 constructs are genetically indistinguishable in children and adolescents but phenotypically and genetically distinct in older adolescents and adults. The current study leveraged data from twin and adoption studies to examine executive function's genetic structure in adulthood ( = 33.15 years, = 4.96) and its overlap with intelligence. 1,238 individuals (170 MZ twin pairs, 154 DZ twin pairs, 95 biological sibling pairs, 80 adoptive sibling pairs, and 240 unpaired individuals) completed 6 executive function tasks as well as the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale-III as part of the Colorado Adoption/Twin study of Life span behavioral development and cognitive aging (CATSLife). Results replicated the unity/diversity model of executive function that distinguishes general executive function abilities (Common EF) from abilities specific to working memory updating (Updating-specific) and mental set shifting (Shifting-specific). In the final model, broad-sense heritability was high for Common EF (h² = .72), Updating-specific (h² = 1.0), and Shifting-specific (h² = .60) factors, as well as for full-scale intelligence (h² = .74). Intelligence was phenotypically and genetically correlated with Common EF ( = .49, broad-sense = .44) and Updating-specific ( = .60, = .69) abilities. This study represents the first executive function study to apply the adoption design. Leveraging the combined twin and adoptive design allowed us to estimate both additive and nonadditive genetic effects underlying these associations. These findings highlight the commonality and separability of executive function and intelligence. Common EF abilities are distinct from intelligence in adulthood, with intelligence also strongly associated with Updating-specific abilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
大量研究探讨了执行功能能力和智力的可分离性，有证据表明，这两个结构在儿童和青少年时期在遗传上无法区分，但在年龄较大的青少年和成年人中表现出表型和遗传上的差异。本研究利用来自双胞胎和领养研究的数据，来检验成年期执行功能的遗传结构（年龄=33.15 岁，N=496）及其与智力的重叠。1238 名个体（170 对同卵双胞胎、154 对异卵双胞胎、95 对亲生兄弟姐妹、80 对领养兄弟姐妹和 240 名非配对个体）完成了 6 项执行功能任务以及威斯康星卡片分类测验-修订版（WCST-R），作为科罗拉多领养/双胞胎生命历程行为发展和认知老化研究（CATSLife）的一部分。研究结果复制了执行功能的统一/多样性模型，该模型区分了一般执行功能能力（通用执行功能，Common EF）和工作记忆更新（更新特异性，Updating-specific）和心理定势转移（转移特异性，Shifting-specific）的特异性能力。在最终模型中，通用执行功能（h²=0.72）、更新特异性（h²=1.0）和转移特异性（h²=0.60）以及全量表智力（h²=0.74）的广义遗传力均较高。智力与通用执行功能（r=0.49，广义 r=0.44）和更新特异性（r=0.60，广义 r=0.69）能力呈表型和遗传相关。本研究代表了第一项应用领养设计的执行功能研究。利用双胞胎和领养的综合设计，我们能够估计这些关联的加性和非加性遗传效应。这些发现突出了执行功能和智力的共性和可分离性。通用执行功能能力在成年期与智力不同，而智力也与更新特异性能力密切相关。
