Brain Function, Cognitive and Emotional Processing, and Behavioral Dysregulation

描述(由申请人提供)：这份K01申请书旨在提供必要的技能方面的专门培训，以研究功能神经生物学与一生中暴力行为的启动、维持和阻止之间的关系。尽管男性暴力是由多种因素决定的，但前额叶神经回路功能障碍(即工作记忆、抑制控制)，以及与处理他人恐惧痛苦线索相关的皮质-边缘网络，已与持续到成年的儿童期暴力的发展有关。然而，很少有研究使用当代功能神经成像技术来研究与男性暴力有关的功能神经回路。因此，人们对表现出儿童期持续暴力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会将坚持暴力行为的儿童期暴力男性与随着时间推移停止暴力行为的男性区分开来。为了解决这些问题，应聘者将接受以下方面的额外培训：1)与认知能力和一生中的情绪处理相关的功能神经回路，2)使用功能磁共振成像(FMRI)作为检查神经功能的方法，以及3)神经生物功能在反社会行为，特别是暴力行为的发展和维持中的作用。利用这项培训，将进行一项fMRI研究，以检查三组男性的大脑执行功能区域(即反应抑制、工作记忆)的功能完整性以及对社交恐惧线索的反应：儿童期暴力性坚持者、儿童期暴力性变态者和非暴力性控制组。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一组7岁至19岁的男孩。目前已有资金用于重新评估大约25岁的最年轻的PY队列，拟议的功能磁共振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，旨在了解持续性暴力发展的研究是最令人担忧的。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、维持和阻止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.