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.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01MH078039-05
Application #
8044672
Study Section
Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Study Section (CPDD)
Program Officer
Friedman-Hill, Stacia
Project Start
2007-04-06
Project End
2013-03-31
Budget Start
2011-04-01
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$148,796
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
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Bechtold, Jordan; Simpson, Theresa; White, Helene R et al. (2015) Chronic adolescent marijuana use as a risk factor for physical and mental health problems in young adult men. Psychol Addict Behav 29:552-63
Pardini, Dustin; White, Helene R; Xiong, Shuangyan et al. (2015) Unfazed or Dazed and Confused: Does Early Adolescent Marijuana Use Cause Sustained Impairments in Attention and Academic Functioning? J Abnorm Child Psychol 43:1203-17
Byrd, Amy L; Loeber, Rolf; Pardini, Dustin A (2014) Antisocial behavior, psychopathic features and abnormalities in reward and punishment processing in youth. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 17:125-56
Gordon, Rachel A; Rowe, Hillary L; Pardini, Dustin et al. (2014) Serious Delinquency and Gang Participation: Combining and Specializing in Drug Selling, Theft and Violence. J Res Adolesc 24:235-251
Theobald, Delphine; Farrington, David P; Loeber, Rolf et al. (2014) Scaling up from convictions to self-reported offending. Crim Behav Ment Health 24:265-76
Pardini, Dustin A; Raine, Adrian; Erickson, Kirk et al. (2014) Lower amygdala volume in men is associated with childhood aggression, early psychopathic traits, and future violence. Biol Psychiatry 75:73-80
Kahn, Rachel E; Byrd, Amy L; Pardini, Dustin A (2013) Callous-unemotional traits robustly predict future criminal offending in young men. Law Hum Behav 37:87-97

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