Are apparently environmental correlations between certain parental factors and executive function outcomes better explained by genetics?

Executive function refers to cognitive skills such as impulse control and updating of working memory. Multiple studies support a relation between executive function deficits during development and maternal smoking, maternal drinking, low socio-economic status, and single-parent status. However, twin studies of executive function indicate that differences in executive function outcome are almost entirely due to genetics, with only minor contributions from environmental factors. These two branches of research thus disagree as to the relative contributions of genetics and environment. This project will use molecular genetic data from individuals and their parents to unravel this relationship. By comparing genetic predictors of environmental factors with those of executive function, it will be possible to determine if shared genetics explain their correlations. Parental genetics will then be used to determine if this is best explained by shared genetics between parent and child shaping outcomes for both, or by parental genetics shaping the environment for their children. Because executive function has been linked with educational outcomes we are further interested in whether these findings generalise to academic achievement, and will validate the results with measures of learning attainment such as literacy.