9 Cumulative Gene × Environment Influences on Neurobehavioral Development in Humans and Nonhuman Primates

摘要

The experience of stress in the form of neglect or maltreatment in childhood poses ongoing and multifaceted challenges for the developing child. These challenges are compounded by long-lasting abnormalities in multiple physiological systems that regulate emotional and social development. There is variation, of course, in how individuals respond to early trauma. Some of this variation may be explained by structural and functional genomic variability among individuals. Disentangling the roles of genomic and environmental influences on neurobehavioral development will help us understand and treat individuals at risk for developing lifelong psychopathology. This effort is augmented by experimental research in animal models, particularly in nonhuman primates that exhibit similar genetic variability with humans. Understanding the developmental processes and mechanisms underlying complex gene-environment interactions across species will further our understanding of the ontogeny and inheritance of normal, pathological, and resilient functioning.