1-096 - Sensitive Periods in Development Shaping Risk for Psychopathology Across the Life Course

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Across multiple disciplines, there is a long-standing belief that there are windows of time when brain plasticity peaks, and therefore experience can have lasting effects on behavior, health, and risk for disease (Ben-Shlomo and Kuh, 2002, Bornstein, 1989, Knudsen, 2004). These “sensitive periods” are thus both high-risk developmental stages when adverse experiences may be most harmful, but also high-reward periods when enriching experiences may be even more beneficial. Although these sensitive periods have been most commonly studied in both animals and humans with respect to sensory systems, evidence has been accumulating to suggest there may be sensitive periods shaping developmental processes that precede the onset of psychiatric disorders and possibly even psychiatric disorders themselves. This symposium brings together a panel of researchers who will summarize recent empirical findings on the role of sensitive periods in development and subsequent mental health. The first paper provides an overview and synthesis of existing evidence from human and animal studies suggesting that the effects of child maltreatment may depend on developmental timing. The second builds on this review of the literature by presenting longitudinal data from a study employing machine-learning methods to identify sensitive periods linking adversity to depression in late adolescence. Finally, the third paper provides evidence that the developmental timing and duration of childhood exposures can interact with genetically-determined neuroplasticity to influence amygdala-PFC sensitive period timing and internalizing behavior. Together, these findings advance our understanding of the role of sensitive periods in shaping psychopathology risk across the life course.

Sub Unit

• Developmental Psychopathology

Chair

• Erin C Dunn, Massachusetts General Hospital

Discussant

• Charles A. Nelson, Harvard Medical School

Individual Presentations

• Does Developmental Timing Matter for Psychopathology Risk? A Critical Review of the Sensitive Period Hypothesis - Presenting Author: Jonathan D. Schaefer, Duke University; Non-Presenting Author: Erin C Dunn, Massachusetts General Hospital

• Sensitive Periods Across Development: Prospectively Assessed Adversity Exposures and Depressive Symptoms in Late Adolescence - Presenting Author: Kathryn Anne Davis, Massachusetts General Hospital; Non-Presenting Author: Andrew D.A.C. Smith, University of the West of England; Non-Presenting Author: Yiwen Zhu, Massachusetts General Hospital; Non-Presenting Author: Henning Tiemeier, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston; Non-Presenting Author: Ezra S. Susser, Columbia University; Non-Presenting Author: Erin C Dunn, Massachusetts General Hospital

• Early Adversity and Genetic Neuroplasticity Factors Shape Amygdala-Prefrontal Circuitry Function and Internalizing Behavior - Presenting Author: Laurel Gabard-Durnam, Boston Children's Hospital