Socioemotional Processing and Aggression

项目摘要/摘要 精神疾病和攻击性之间存在复杂的关系，特别是人际攻击性 会导致反社会行为。不幸的是，在这些人中进行高影响力的心理健康研究 对许多人来说，对他们犯下严重的攻击性行为是战略上的挑战 理由。这项研究计划使用独特的资源，使高级认知神经科学研究能够 在法医环境中进行。在这里，我们利用这些资源来检查受损的 导致特定种类严重攻击性行为的神经回路。冷酷无情 特征，冲动/放纵的行为，以及伤害他人的欲望，都有可识别的根源 神经认知功能。我们将研究这些后一种特征的临床水平如何与 神经回路涉及情感观点的选择、道德决策和行为抑制。 我们以前的工作已经很好地描述了这些过程中每一个过程的标准神经反应。我们 寻求区分导致特定行为的独特病理生理学病因 倾向。我们进一步的目的是阐明早期儿童创伤对这些人的修复性影响。 神经认知域。了解这些差异将促进更复杂的预防和 结合神经认知脆弱性和补救措施的具体知识的干预策略 为个人和公众改善长期成果的方法。

Project Summary/Abstract Complex relationships exist between mental illness and aggression, particularly interpersonal aggression that can lead to antisocial behavior. Unfortunately, conducting high-impact mental health research among those who have committed serious aggressive acts against persons has been strategically challenging for many reasons. This research plan employs unique resources that enable advanced cognitive neuroscience research to be conducted in forensic environments. Here we leverage these resources to examine impaired functioning of neural circuits that contribute to specific varieties of serious aggressive behavior. Callous and unemotional traits, impulsive/disinhibited behavior, and appetitive desire to harm others, all have identifiable roots in neurocognitive function. We will examine how clinical levels of these latter traits are related to abnormalities in the neural circuits involved in affective perspective taking, moral decision-making, and behavioral inhibition. Normative neural responses for each of these processes have been well-characterized by our prior work. We seek to differentiate between unique pathophysiological etiologies that contribute to specific behavioral tendencies. We further aim to elucidate the modifying influence of early childhood trauma in these neurocognitive domains. Understanding these differences will promote more sophisticated prevention and intervention strategies that incorporate specific knowledge of neurocognitive vulnerabilities and remedial approaches for improving long-range outcomes for individuals and for the public.