FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA.
Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2022;53:235-254. doi: 10.1007/7854_2021_251.
Adolescence is an exquisitely sensitive period of development during which pathways branch toward success in school and prosocial pursuits or, conversely, toward behavior problems and involvement in high-risk activities and systems, such as juvenile justice (JJ). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as poverty, family dysfunction, and child maltreatment, have been strongly and repeatedly associated with JJ involvement. A significant body of research from neuroscience has established that ACEs can alter facets of neurodevelopment that undergird self-regulation throughout childhood and adolescence, thereby increasing susceptibility to behaviors that attract attention of the JJ system. Because the ability to intervene prior to system-entrenchment is crucial to disrupting an adverse developmental pathway, we look toward neuroscience to offer insights into how to do so more effectively. In this chapter, evidence is summarized that informs an understanding of how neurodevelopmental pathways may lead to JJ involvement. Because neurodevelopment is malleable in response to both detrimental and positive experiences, there is potential for well-targeted interventions to normalize brain and cognitive development, especially during sensitive periods of maturation. This discussion is followed by a proposed research agenda to determine how to exploit these critical windows of opportunity to divert youth from persistent antisocial behavior and JJ involvement. Lastly, a review of neuroscience findings regarding the ability of intervention to strengthen brain systems that modulate self-regulation is presented. This research has direct practical significance with potential to be translated into meaningful policy change.
青春期是发展的一个极其敏感的时期，在此期间，个体可能会在学业和亲社会追求方面取得成功，也可能会出现行为问题，并参与高风险的活动和系统，如少年司法系统。不利的儿童经历（ACEs），如贫困、家庭功能障碍和儿童虐待，与少年司法系统的参与有着强烈且反复的关联。神经科学领域的大量研究已经证实，ACEs 可以改变神经发育的各个方面，这些方面支撑着整个儿童期和青春期的自我调节能力，从而增加了对吸引少年司法系统注意的行为的易感性。由于在系统根深蒂固之前进行干预对于打破不利的发展途径至关重要，因此我们希望神经科学能够提供有关如何更有效地进行干预的见解。在这一章中，总结了一些证据，这些证据使我们能够理解神经发育途径如何导致少年司法系统的参与。由于神经发育对有害和有益的经验都具有可塑性，因此有潜力通过针对性强的干预措施来使大脑和认知发育正常化，尤其是在成熟的敏感时期。接下来是一个拟议的研究议程，以确定如何利用这些关键的机会窗口来引导青少年摆脱持续的反社会行为和少年司法系统的参与。最后，回顾了神经科学关于干预增强调节自我的大脑系统的能力的研究发现。这些研究具有直接的实际意义，有可能转化为有意义的政策变革。
