They are about decision making among ADHD patients, children born to mothers using opiates or polydrugs, and children?s neurological, cognitive and social development.
The two projects belong under the research programmes on Mental Health (Psykisk helse) and Alcohol and Drug Research (Rusmiddel) at the Norwegian Research Counsil.
The cognitive developmental research unit (EKUP) recieves further financing from the Norwegian Department for children, youth and family affairs this spring.
1. The influence of stimulant therapy and comorbidity on decisions in ADHD
ADHD is caused by problems with the availability and action of dopamin and serotonin. These neurotransmitters play an important role in decision making and learning. This project investigates decision making in ADHD patients on and off medication, and compares them with healthy adults.
The project is a collaboration with Psykiatrien in Vestfold and the Intervention Centre at Oslo University Hospital. A first study will analyse data from a learning and a decision making experiment with mathematical models, which allow to explain observed performance differences in terms of affective and cognitive processes.
A second study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine underlying brain processes.
A third pharmacological MRI study will investigate the effect of stimulant medication in terms of changes in tonic cerebral blood flow.
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Project supervisors: Tor Endestad and Guido Biele
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Project period: 01.03.2012 – 01.03.2015
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Financing: 6 million kroners
2. Teenage follow-up of neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning of children born to mothers with opiate and polydrug abuse
Children born to mothers with opioid and polysubstance abuse problems are at increased risk of regulatory and neuropsychological difficulties. This has been established primarily by the study of infants and preschoolers.
Problems may be identifiable early in development, but the neurocognitive and regulatory domains affected are not well-developed until adolescence and young adulthood.
Regulatory, neuropsychological and drug use problems can partly be explained by social-environmental correlates of maternal substance abuse, but there may also be potent biological foundations, including CNS alterations. Prenatally exposed children growing up under optimized conditions also exhibit problems and prenatal substance exposure may alter gene expression in brain regions involved in the reinforcing effects of drugs to increase later addiction liability.
We will study the interaction of risk factors associated with maternal substance abuse, focusing on mediating and moderating variables influencing the developmental outcome in teenagers/young adults.
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Project supervisor: Kristine Beate Walhovd
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Project period: 01.04.2012 – 01.04.2016
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Financing: 4 million kroners
3. The cognitive developmental unit (EKUP)
The cognitive developmental research unit (EKUP) was established in 2006 with funds from the Norwegian Department for children, youth and family affairs (Bufdir). The purpose of EKUP is to investigate and promote basic research with respect to children?s neurological, cognitive, and social development, focusing both on typically developing children and children at risk.
The first funding period ends this summer. But Bufdir has signalled an extension of the project period for another four and a half years.
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Project supervisor: Annika Melinder
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Project period: 01.07.2012 – 31.12.2016
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Financing: 4.3 million kroners per year
