Translating Developmental Neuroscience to Understand Risk for Psychiatric Disorders

The American Journal of Psychiatry
Heidi C Meyer, Francis S Lee

Abstract

The transition from childhood to adulthood represents the developmental time frame in which the majority of psychiatric disorders emerge. Recent efforts to identify risk factors mediating the susceptibility to psychopathology have led to a heightened focus on both typical and atypical trajectories of neural circuit maturation. Mounting evidence has highlighted the immense neural plasticity apparent in the developing brain. Although in many cases adaptive, the capacity for neural circuit alteration also induces a state of vulnerability to environmental perturbations, such that early-life experiences have long-lasting implications for cognitive and emotional functioning in adulthood. The authors outline preclinical and neuroimaging studies of normative human brain circuit development, as well as parallel efforts covered in this issue of the Journal, to identify brain circuit alterations in psychiatric disorders that frequently emerge in developing populations. Continued translational research into the interactive effects of neurobiological development and external factors will be crucial for identifying early-life risk factors that may contribute to the emergence of psychiatric illness and provide the key to optimizing treatments.

Citations

Jan 2, 2020·The American Journal of Psychiatry·Ned H Kalin
Aug 28, 2019·Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology·Daniel F ConnorJan K Buitelaar
Apr 30, 2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Nicole C FerraraJ Amiel Rosenkranz
Oct 24, 2020·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Daniela L UlianaAnthony A Grace
Dec 22, 2020·Biological Psychiatry·Danielle M GerhardFrancis S Lee
Jan 1, 2019·Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports·Adam Bryant Miller, Tory A Eisenlohr-Moul
Sep 2, 2020·Trends in Molecular Medicine·Terri A deRoon-CassiniCecilia J Hillard
Apr 2, 2021·Depression and Anxiety·Namita Tanya PadgaonkarTara S Peris
Apr 3, 2021·Communicative & Integrative Biology·Tobore Onojighofia Tobore
Mar 30, 2021·NeuroImage. Clinical·Lucy D Vanes, Raymond J Dolan
Apr 30, 2021·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Christine SigristJulian Koenig
Jul 12, 2021·Translational Psychiatry·Gal Richter-Levin, Carmen Sandi
Sep 27, 2020·Scientific Reports·Hillary A Raab, Catherine A Hartley

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