Early Experience, Stress and Neurobehavioral Development Center

我们描述了一个成熟的多站点IDSC，“早期经历，压力和神经发育”专注于了解早期生活压力（ELS）的影响。我们使用ELS作为一个框架，以涵盖不利的早期护理条件：分离/损失，忽视，虐待。我们使用各种模型整合基本的发育行为神经科学，以a）增加对ELS的行为和神经生物学影响的理解，B）确定支持恢复的护理经验，以及c）在预防干预研究人员的指导下处理这些问题，以便未来的干预措施可以从这个更全面的知识库中受益。在3个项目中，我们测试了这一假设，即早期发育的不利条件导致神经激素应激系统的慢性激活，形成更反应性的威胁反应系统功能，并影响皮质边缘注意力和情绪调节系统的发展。这些神经系统在生命早期是可塑的;改善护理可以使其功能正常化。然而，由于暴露于这些ELS条件下的幼儿经常会遇到照顾者的混乱依恋行为和破坏性行为问题，治疗性父母必须提供孩子需要的养育，但可能不会发出信号，并通过坚定，非敌意，结构/限制设置来减少行为问题。即便如此，暴露于最严重，长期ELS的儿童可能会持续神经发育脆弱性，在护理条件改善后很长一段时间内增加病理风险。我们的项目涉及（1）国内寄养的幼儿（2）从海外收养的幼儿，以及（3）另一种允许随机分配虐待照顾和跟踪神经发育影响的模式，这种模式对幼儿不可行。这项工作由5个核心支持：管理，行为编码，神经心理/电生理，数据管理和分析。我们使用行为观察，电生理学（EEG，ERPs，EMG，ECG），神经内分泌活动（HPA轴）在基础条件下，并在心理和药理学的挑战，在体内神经成像（MRI，DTI，MRS），和杏仁核的神经行为任务（恐惧增强惊吓）和前额叶功能。我们的中心还包括基础发展科学和发展心理病理学与预防科学的交叉培训计划。

We describe a mature multi-site IDSC, "Early Experiences, Stress, and Neurodevelopment" focused on understanding the impacts of early life stress (ELS). We use ELS as a framework to encompass adverse early care conditions: separation/loss, neglect, abuse. We integrate basic developmental behavioral neuroscience using various models to a) increase understanding of the behavioral and neurobiological impacts of ELS, b) identify care experiences that support recovery, and c) approach these questions guided by preventive intervention researchers so that future interventions can benefit from this more comprehensive knowledge base. In 3 projects we test the hypothesis that adverse conditions of early caregiving result in chronic activation of neurohormonal stress systems, shapes more reactive threat response system functioning, and impacts the development of cortico-limbic attention- and emotion regulatory systems. These neural systems are plastic during early life; improved care can normalize their functioning. However, because young children exposed to these ELS conditions often confront caregivers with disordered attachment behaviors & disruptive behavior problems, therapeutic parenting must provide nurturance the child needs but may not signal, and reduce behavior problems through firm, non-hostile, structure/limit-setting. Even so, children exposed to the most severe, prolonged ELS may sustain neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities that increase risk of pathology long after care conditions improve. Our projects involve (1) young children in domestic foster care (2) those adopted from orphanages overseas, as well as (3) another model that allows random assignment to maltreating care and tracking of neurodevelopmental impacts in ways not feasible with young children. The work is supported by 5 Cores: Administrative, Behavioral Coding, Neuropsychological/ Electrophysiological, Data Management, and Assay. We use behavioral observations, electrophysiology (EEG, ERPs, EMG, ECG), neuroendocrine activity (HPA axis) under basal conditions and in response to psychological & pharmacological challenges, in vivo neuroimaging (MRI, DTI, MRS), and neurobehavioral tasks of amygdala (fear-potentiated startle) & prefrontal functioning. Our Center also includes a cross-training program in basic developmental science and developmental psychopathology & prevention science.