Lewis Marc D, Granic Isabela, Lamm Connie
Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, University of Toronto, 252 Bloor St. West, Toronto, ON M5S 1V6, Canada.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Dec;1094:164-77. doi: 10.1196/annals.1376.017.
Children with aggressive behavior problems may have difficulties regulating negative emotions, resulting in harmful patterns of interpersonal behavior at home and in the schoolyard. Ventral and dorsal regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) have been associated with response inhibition and self-control-key components of emotion regulation. Our research program aims to explore differences among aggressive and normal children in the activation of these cortical regions during emotional episodes, to the extent possible using electrophysiological techniques, to identify diagnostic subtypes, gain insights into their interpersonal difficulties, and help develop effective treatment strategies. This report reviews several recent studies investigating individual and developmental differences in cortical mechanisms of emotion regulation, corresponding with different patterns of interpersonal behavior. Our methods include event-related potentials (ERPs) and cortical source modeling, using dense-array electroencephalography (EEG) technology, as well as videotaped observations of parent-child interactions, with both normal and aggressive children. By relating patterns of brain activation to observed behavioral differences, we find (i) a steady decrease in cortical activation subserving self-regulation across childhood and adolescence, (ii) different cortical activation patterns as well as behavioral constellations distinguishing subtypes of aggressive children, and (iii) robust correlations between the activation of cortical mediators of emotion regulation and flexibility in parent-child emotional communication in children referred for aggressive behavior problems. These findings point toward models of developmental psychopathology based on the interplay among biological, psychological, and social factors.
有攻击性行为问题的儿童可能难以调节负面情绪，从而导致在家中和校园里出现有害的人际行为模式。前额叶皮质（PFC）的腹侧和背侧区域与反应抑制和自我控制（情绪调节的关键组成部分）有关。我们的研究项目旨在尽可能利用电生理技术，探索攻击性儿童和正常儿童在情绪发作期间这些皮质区域激活情况的差异，以识别诊断亚型，深入了解他们的人际困难，并帮助制定有效的治疗策略。本报告回顾了几项最近的研究，这些研究调查了与不同人际行为模式相对应的情绪调节皮质机制的个体差异和发育差异。我们的方法包括使用密集阵列脑电图（EEG）技术的事件相关电位（ERP）和皮质源建模，以及对正常儿童和攻击性儿童的亲子互动进行录像观察。通过将大脑激活模式与观察到的行为差异联系起来，我们发现：（i）在儿童期和青少年期，支持自我调节的皮质激活稳步下降；（ii）不同的皮质激活模式以及行为组合区分了攻击性儿童的亚型；（iii）在因攻击性行为问题而被转诊的儿童中，情绪调节皮质调节因子的激活与亲子情感交流的灵活性之间存在强烈的相关性。这些发现指向了基于生物、心理和社会因素相互作用的发展性精神病理学模型。
