Dopamine genetic composite score × environment interactions on executive function in children and adolescents: A systematic review

Individual differences in dopamine genotype are theorized to increase children and adolescent’s sensitivity to the effects of environmental factors on executive function. This review synthesized and evaluated the evidence for dopamine gene × environment interactions on children and adolescents’ (ages 2 –19 years) executive function in studies that used a multilocus or polygenic measure of dopamine genotype. Ten peer-reviewed published studies were identified and included in the review. Sixteen of 29 (55 %; N = 4697) interactions were significant, with associations between environmental factors and executive function generally stronger in individuals with genotypes related to reduced dopamine availability. A p-curve analysis found the significant interactions to be of evidential value and p-hacking to be unlikely. Results suggest that multilocus and polygenic measures hold promise for examining dopamine gene × environment interactions on executive function and that individual differences in dopamine genotype alter sensitivity to environmental effects on children and adolescent’s executive function. This finding has potential implications for understanding pathways to the development of mental and physical health problems. It also raises important theoretical questions about dopamine gene × environment interactions and the biopsychosocial mechanisms involved in executive function development to be addressed in future research.