Crews Fulton, He Jun, Hodge Clyde
Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medecine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2007 Feb;86(2):189-99. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2006.12.001. Epub 2007 Jan 12.
Cortical growth and remodeling continues from birth through youth and adolescence to stable adult levels changing slowly into senescence. There are critical periods of cortical development when specific experiences drive major synaptic rearrangements and learning that only occur during the critical period. For example, visual cortex is characterized by a critical period of plasticity involved in establishing visual acuity. Adolescence is defined by characteristic behaviors that include high levels of risk taking, exploration, novelty and sensation seeking, social interaction and play behaviors. In addition, adolescence is the final period of development of the adult during which talents, reasoning and complex adult behaviors mature. This maturation of behaviors corresponds with periods of marked changes in neurogenesis, cortical synaptic remodeling, neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, as well as major changes in hormones. Frontal cortical development is later in adolescence and likely contributes to refinement of reasoning, goal and priority setting, impulse control and evaluating long and short term rewards. Adolescent humans have high levels of binge drinking and experimentation with other drugs. This review presents findings supporting adolescence as a critical period of cortical development important for establishing life long adult characteristics that are disrupted by alcohol and drug use.
从出生到青年期及青春期，皮质的生长和重塑持续进行，直至达到稳定的成人水平，并在衰老过程中缓慢变化。在皮质发育的关键时期，特定经历会驱动主要的突触重排和学习，而这些仅在关键时期发生。例如，视觉皮层的特点是在建立视力方面存在可塑性关键期。青春期的特征行为包括高风险行为、探索、追求新奇和刺激、社交互动及玩耍行为。此外，青春期是成年人发育的最后阶段，在此期间，才能、推理能力和复杂的成人行为逐渐成熟。这些行为的成熟与神经发生、皮质突触重塑、神经递质受体和转运体的显著变化时期，以及激素的重大变化相对应。额叶皮质发育在青春期较晚阶段进行，可能有助于推理、目标和优先级设定、冲动控制以及评估长期和短期奖励等能力的完善。青少年人群中有大量酗酒及尝试其他药物的行为。本综述呈现的研究结果支持青春期是皮质发育的关键时期，这对于确立成年后一生的特征至关重要，而这些特征会因酒精和药物使用而受到破坏。
