Neural Mechanisms Subserving Deficits in High-Risk Youth

该指导研究科学家职业发展（K 01）奖的总体目标是让候选人获得新的技能，使她成为神经影像学领域的独立研究人员，特别是在了解与受到虐待的青少年相关的神经行为特征方面，这些青少年获得了青少年司法系统的反复关注。这一目标将通过在圣地亚哥的加州大学的一个教育和培训相结合的方案来实现，并完成一个关于有（LCPD+）和没有（LCPD-）虐待儿童历史的终身持续犯罪者的成像研究项目。候选人的主要培训目标是发展她在结构（sMRI）和功能磁共振成像（fMRI）的利用方面的熟练程度，重点是阐明LCPD+相对于LCPD-青年在特定神经解剖区域的大脑活动是如何改变的，并在负责任的研究行为中获得更高的能力。为了实现这些目标，候选人将参加她所在部门的教育活动和正式课程，以及指导和咨询神经成像（MRI物理学，fMRI实验研究设计，成像数据分析），儿童虐待，发育创伤学和弱势群体研究的道德行为领域的专家。拟议的研究将探讨如何神经认知[NC]缺陷，特别是执行功能障碍和语言缺陷被认为是在这些人群中普遍存在的，与特定的神经回路LCPD青年相比，匹配的健康对照组：1）表征120 LCPD+，LCPD-和健康青年的NC概况; 2）阐明这些青年中NC缺陷的神经基础（n=55），3）确定观察到的神经机制与传统神经心理学测量的表现之间的关系的程度，以及4）初步探讨LCPD青少年NC与功能损害的相关性。在奖励期结束时，候选人预计将拥有必要的技能，成为一个独立的神经影像学研究调查员，已收到资金作为一个独立的调查员;并成为一个领导者，在应用神经影像学技术的科学研究的虐待和犯罪青年。鉴于与虐待和犯罪相关的社会和财政成本，这项研究计划具有重大的公共政策潜力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall aim of this Mentored Research Scientist Career Development (K01) Award is for the candidate to gain new skills so that she may become an independent researcher in the area of neuroimaging, particularly with respect to understanding the neurobehavioral profile associated with maltreated youth who gain the repeated attention of the Juvenile Justice system. This aim will be accomplished through a program of combined education and training at the University of California, San Diego, and the completion of an imaging research project on lifecourse persistent delinquents with (LCPD+) and without (LCPD-) child maltreatment histories. The candidate's major training goals are to develop her proficiency in the utilization of structural (sMRI) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) with a focus on elucidating how brain activity in specific neuroanatomical regions is altered in LCPD+ relative to LCPD- youth and to gain increased competence in the responsible conduct of research. To achieve these goals, the candidate will participate in educational activities and formal coursework in her department as well as mentorship and consultation with experts in the fields of neuroimaging (MRI physics, fMRI experimental research design, imaging data analysis), child maltreatment, developmental traumatology and the ethical conduct of research with vulnerable populations. The proposed research will examine how neurocognitive [NC] deficits, especially executive dysfunction and verbal deficits thought to be prevalent in these populations, are related to specific neural circuitry in LCPD youth compared to matched healthy control subjects and to: 1) characterize the NC profiles of 120 LCPD+, LCPD- and healthy youth; 2) elucidate the neural bases of NC deficits in a subset of these youth (n=55), 3) determine the magnitude of the relationship between observed neural mechanisms and performances on traditional neuropsychological measures and 4) preliminarily investigate NC correlates of functional impairment in LCPD youth. At the end of the award period, the candidate expects to possess the skills necessary to be an independent neuroimaging research investigator, to have received funding as an independent investigator; and to become a leader in the application of neuroimaging techniques to the scientific study of maltreated and delinquent youth. Given the social and fiscal costs associated with maltreatment and delinquency, this program of research holds significant potential for public policy.