Brain Mechanisms Underlying Plasticity in the Specialization of Cognitive Systems through the Adolescent Period

University Of Pittsburgh At Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA

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Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract This is an administrative supplement requesting support for significantly enhancing the ability for our parent R01 project to characterize adolescent developmental changes in key neurotransmitters (NT): gamma- Aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate (Glu), and dopamine (DA) in their known role in critical period plasticity in prefrontal and associated regions. In our effort to focus on the adolescent period, the age range of the parent grant was 12-30 years of age. Reviewers, though highly enthusiastic, collectively pointed to a missed opportunity to delineate the course of puberty by including younger subjects. This is of particular importance given animal models linking puberty to critical period plasticity in prefrontal cortex. Thus, we are requesting support to (Aim 1) add 24 10-11 year olds and to include (Aim 2) a biological assay of pubertal development given that we presently only have self-report scales limiting our ability to assess pubertal effects on brain development. The addition of younger subjects and a biological assay of puberty will significantly enhance our ability to characterize for the first time in vivo in humans, relevant neurotransmitter changes underlying critical period plasticity of association cortex. Together, these findings have the potential to reveal neural mechanisms of normative plasticity during the period of adolescent development needed to discern processes underlying the emergence of impaired development that can lead to the emergence of major psychopathology (e.g., schizophrenia, mood disorders, addiction) at this time of development.