Distinct neural signatures of threat learning in adolescents and adults

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1005494108
• Publication Date: 2011-02-24T04:56:20Z
• Authors: Jennifer Y. Lau; Jennifer C. Britton; Eric E. Nelson; Adrian Angold; Monique Ernst; Michelle Goldwin; Christian Grillon; Ellen Leibenluft; Shmuel Lissek; Maxine Norcross; Nina Shiffrin; Daniel S. Pine
• Keywords: Ventromedial prefrontal cortex; Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Most teenage fears subside with age, a change that may reflect brain maturation in the service of refined fear learning. Whereas adults clearly demarcate safe situations from real dangers, attenuating to former but not latter, adolescents’ immaturity prefrontal cortex function limit their ability form clear-cut threat categories, allowing pervasive manifest. Here we developed discrimination learning paradigm assesses categorize safety cues test these hypotheses on age differences neurodevelopment. In experiment 1, first demonstrated capacity this generate threat/safety both adolescents and adults. Next, 2, used compare behavioral neural correlates using functional MRI. This second yielded three sets findings. First, when labeling threats online, reported less between than Second, were more likely engage early-maturing subcortical structures during Third, adults’ engagement late-maturing regions correlated positively ratings These data are consistent role dorsolateral category learning, particularly stimuli subtle [Miller EK, Cohen JD (2001) Annu Rev Neurosci 24:167–202]. findings suggest maturational adolescent adult brains relate age-related discrimination.