Brain Function, Cognitive and Emotional Processing, and Behavioral Dysregulation

描述（由申请人提供）：这个K01应用程序旨在提供必要的专业技能培训，以研究功能神经生物学与整个生命周期中暴力行为的开始、维持和停止之间的关系。虽然男性暴力是由多种因素决定的，但服务于执行功能（即，工作记忆，抑制控制）的前额叶神经回路的功能障碍，以及与处理他人恐惧痛苦的线索有关的皮质边缘网络的功能障碍，与持续到成年期的儿童期暴力的发展有关。然而，很少有研究使用现代功能神经成像技术检查与男性暴力相关的功能神经回路。因此，人们对表现出儿童期持续暴力行为的男性的神经生物学功能知之甚少。同样不清楚的是，神经生物学功能是否能区分那些在童年时期就有暴力行为的男性和那些随着时间的推移不再有暴力行为的男性。为了解决这些问题，候选人将获得以下方面的额外培训：1)与认知能力和情感处理相关的功能性神经回路，2)使用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）作为检查神经功能的方法，以及3)神经生物学功能在反社会行为，特别是暴力行为的发展和维持中的作用。利用这种训练，一项功能磁共振成像研究将在三组男性中进行，以检查服务于执行功能（即，反应抑制，工作记忆）和对可怕痛苦的社会线索的反应的大脑区域的功能完整性：儿童期开始的暴力坚持者，儿童期开始的暴力反抗者和非暴力控制者。参与者将从匹兹堡青年研究（PYS）中招募，这是一项正在进行的纵向调查，每年使用多种来源评估7至19岁的男孩队列。目前有资金用于重新评估25岁左右的PYS最年轻队列，拟议的fMRI研究将补充这一后续评估。由于男性暴力是一个严重的公共卫生问题，旨在了解持续暴力的发展的研究是一个最令人关切的问题。拟议的研究计划将加强我们对大脑功能在整个生命过程中暴力行为的发展、维持和抑制中的相对作用的理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This K01 application is designed to provide specialized training in the skills necessary to study the relation between functional neurobiology and the initiation, maintenance, and desistance of violent behavior across the lifespan. Although male violence is determined by multiple factors, dysfunction in the prefrontal neural circuitry subserving executive functions (i.e., working memory, inhibitory control), and the cortico-limbic network associated with processing cues of fearful distress in others has been implicated in the development of childhood-onset violence that persists into adulthood. However, few studies have examined the functional neural circuitry associated with male violence using contemporary functional neuroimaging techniques. As a result, little is known about the neurobiological functioning of men exhibiting childhood-onset persistent violence. It is also unclear whether neurobiological functioning differentiates childhood-onset violent males who persist in their violent behavior from those who desist from violence over time. To address these issues, the candidate will obtain additional training in: 1) the functional neural circuitry associated with cognitive abilities and emotion processing across the lifespan, 2) the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a method for examining neural functioning, and 3) the role of neurobiological functioning in the development and maintenance of antisocial behavior, particularly violence. Using this training, an fMRI study will be conducted to examine the functional integrity of brain regions subserving executive functions (i.e., response inhibition, working memory) and responsiveness to social cues of fearful distress among three groups of men: childhood-onset violent persisters, childhood-onset violent desisters, and non-violent controls. Participants will be recruited from the Pittsburgh Youth Study (PYS), an ongoing longitudinal investigation that has annually assessed a cohort of boys from ages 7 to 19 using multiple sources. Funding is currently in place to re-evaluate the youngest cohort of the PYS at approximately age 25, and the proposed fMRI study will supplement this follow-up assessment. Because male violence is a serious public health problem, research aimed at understanding the development of persistent violence is a paramount concern. The proposed program of research would enhance our understanding of the relative role of brain functioning in the development, maintenance, and desistance of violent behavior across the lifecourse.