Neurophysiological Mechanisms in the Development of Externalizing Problems

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议项目的目标是更好地了解机制的发展外化的问题，包括行为和注意力的问题，特别强调神经机制。从发展的角度来看，在行为问题被确定之前，研究与外化行为有关的神经功能是很重要的。随着对这些过程的了解的加深，早期发现和预防方法可能会更加成功。这项拟议中的研究似乎是第一个描绘神经功能与外化有关的发展 儿童早期的问题。本研究采用事件相关电位（ERPs）技术，对2.5-3.5岁儿童外化问题发展的神经机制进行了纵向研究。ERPs是通过脑电描记术（EEG）测量的对刺激的神经反应，有可能成为比外化症状通常变得突出时更早年龄的精神病理学维度的生物标志物。基于以前的研究结果的中心假设是，ERP，包括N2和P3组件，将预测发展的外化行为问题，作为介导的自我调节缺陷。这项研究的基本原理是， 将问题外化的风险因素和机制可能导致更准确地识别风险儿童和可改变的中间表型。这反过来又可以导致更具成本效益的干预措施，甚至预防行为问题。该方法是创新的纵向检查神经生物标志物在儿童早期的预测外化问题，尺寸的去抑制和持续的注意力缺陷，而不是诊断类别。这项拟议的研究意义重大，因为它将确定比行为标记本身更准确的早期发育机制，这可能转化为更成功的预防。拟议的研究还将确定更好的早期行为指标的神经机制外化的问题。这些外部化问题的中间表型可以成为儿童早期临床实用的评估工具。该项目包括两个具体目标：1）识别外化问题发展的早期神经生物标志物，以及2）确定外化问题发展的潜在机制。目的1将研究是否N2和P3 ERP组件预测的发展，后来的外化问题的父母和二级照顾者报告。目标2将测试N2和P3是否预测实验室任务的后期自我调节缺陷，这会导致外化问题。我们还将测试其他神经生物标志物，以提高预测后期外化问题发展的灵敏度和特异性。这项研究将跟踪30至42个月的儿童，这是一个神经发育加速和外部问题增加的时代，这些问题正在变得稳定。外部化问题将由父母和二级照顾者报告。自我调节问题将通过行为任务来测量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed project is better understanding of mechanisms in the development of externalizing problems, including conduct and attention problems, with special emphasis on neural mechanisms. From a developmental perspective it is important to study neural functioning in relation to externalizing behavior befor behavior problems have become established. With more knowledge of the processes, early detection and prevention approaches may become more successful. The proposed study appears to be the first to chart the development of neural functioning in relation to externalizing problems in early childhood. The proposed longitudinal research seeks to identify neural mechanisms in the development of externalizing problems among children 2.5-3.5 years of age using event-related potentials (ERPs). ERPs are neural responses to stimuli measured by electroencephalography (EEG), with the potential to be biomarkers for dimensions of psychopathology at earlier ages than when externalizing symptoms typically become salient. The central hypothesis based on previous findings is that ERPs, including the N2 and P3 components, will predict the development of externalizing behavior problems, as mediated by self-regulation deficits. The rationale of the proposed research is that understanding early neural risk factors and mechanisms in externalizing problems may lead to more accurate identification of at-risk children and modifiable intermediate phenotypes. This in turn can lead to more cost-effective interventions and even prevention of behavior problems. The approach is innovative in longitudinally examining neural biomarkers in early childhood as predictors of externalizing problems, dimensions of disinhibition and sustained attention deficits rather than diagnostic categories. The proposed research is significant because it will identify more accurate early developmental mechanisms than behavioral markers by themselves, which may translate to more successful prevention. The proposed research will also identify better early behavioral indicators of the neural mechanisms of externalizing problems. These intermediate phenotypes for externalizing problems can become clinically practical assessment tools in early childhood. The project includes two specific aims: 1) Identify early neural biomarkers of the development of externalizing problems, and 2) Determine mechanisms underlying the development of externalizing problems. Aim 1 will examine whether the N2 and P3 ERP components predict the development of later externalizing problems reported by parents and secondary caregivers. Aim 2 will test whether the N2 and P3 predict later self-regulation deficits on lab tasks, which, in tun, lead to externalizing problems. We will also test other neural biomarkers to increase sensitivity and specificity for predicting the development of later externalizing problems. The study will follow children from 30 to 42 months, an era of accelerated neural development and increased externalizing problems that are becoming stable. Externalizing problems will be reported by parents and secondary caregivers. Self-regulation problems will be measured by behavioral tasks.