Adverse
childhood
experiences
(ACEs)
are
a
major
risk
factor
for
the
development
of
multiple
psychopathological
conditions,
but
mechanisms
underlying
this
link
poorly
understood.
Associative
learning
encompasses
key
through
which
individuals
learn
to
important
environmental
inputs
emotional
and
behavioral
responses.
ACEs
may
impact
normative
maturation
associative
processes,
resulting
in
their
enduring
maladaptive
expression
manifesting
psychopathology.
In
review,
we
lay
out
systematic
methodological
overview
integration
available
evidence
proposed
association
between
threat
reward
processes.
We
summarize
results
from
literature
search
(following
PRISMA
guidelines)
yielded
total
81
articles
(threat:
n=38,
reward:
n=43).
Across
fields,
behaviorally,
observed
converging
pattern
aberrant
with
history
ACEs,
independent
other
sample
characteristics,
specific
ACE
types,
outcome
measures.
Specifically,
blunted
was
reflected
reduced
discrimination
safety
cues,
primarily
driven
by
diminished
responding
conditioned
cues.
Furthermore,
attenuated
manifested
accuracy
rate
tasks
involving
acquisition
contingencies.
Importantly,
emerged
despite
substantial
heterogeneity
assessment
operationalization
across
both
fields.
conclude
that
represent
mechanistic
route
become
physiologically
neurobiologically
embedded
ultimately
confer
greater
closing,
discuss
future
directions
research
field,
including
considerations.
Nature Human Behaviour,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
7(11), P. 1955 - 1967
Published: Aug. 17, 2023
Human
development
is
often
described
as
a
'cooling
off'
process,
analogous
to
stochastic
optimization
algorithms
that
implement
gradual
reduction
in
randomness
over
time.
Yet
there
ambiguity
how
interpret
this
analogy,
due
lack
of
concrete
empirical
comparisons.
Using
data
from
n
=
281
participants
ages
5
55,
we
show
cooling
off
does
not
only
apply
the
single
dimension
randomness.
Rather,
human
resembles
an
process
multiple
learning
parameters,
for
example,
reward
generalization,
uncertainty-directed
exploration
and
random
temperature.
Rapid
changes
parameters
occur
during
childhood,
but
these
plateau
converge
efficient
values
adulthood.
We
while
developmental
trajectory
strikingly
similar
several
algorithms,
are
important
differences
convergence.
None
tested
were
able
discover
reliably
better
regions
strategy
space
than
adult
on
task.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
120(49)
Published: Nov. 27, 2023
Early
in
development,
the
process
of
exploration
helps
children
gather
new
information
that
fosters
learning
about
world.
Yet,
it
is
unclear
how
childhood
experiences
may
influence
way
humans
approach
learning.
What
influences
decisions
to
exploit
known,
familiar
options
versus
trying
a
novel
alternative?
We
found
unpredictability,
characterized
by
unpredictable
caregiving
and
unstable
living
environments,
was
associated
with
reduced
exploratory
behavior.
This
effect
holds
while
controlling
for
individual
differences,
including
anxiety
stress.
Individuals
who
perceived
their
childhoods
as
explored
less
were
instead
more
likely
repeat
previous
choices
(habitual
responding).
They
also
sensitive
uncertainty
than
potential
rewards,
even
when
yielded
lower
rewards.
examined
these
effects
across
multiple
task
contexts
via
both
in-person
(N
=
78)
online
replication
84)
studies
among
10-
13-y-olds.
Results
are
discussed
terms
cascading
environments
on
development
decision-making
early
experience
subsequent
Adverse
childhood
experiences
(ACEs)
are
a
major
risk
factor
for
the
development
of
multiple
psychopathological
conditions,
but
mechanisms
underlying
this
link
poorly
understood.
Associative
learning
encompasses
key
through
which
individuals
learn
to
important
environmental
inputs
emotional
and
behavioral
responses.
ACEs
may
impact
normative
maturation
associative
processes,
resulting
in
their
enduring
maladaptive
expression
manifesting
psychopathology.
In
review,
we
lay
out
systematic
methodological
overview
integration
available
evidence
proposed
association
between
threat
reward
processes.
We
summarize
results
from
literature
search
(following
PRISMA
guidelines)
yielded
total
81
articles
(threat:
n=38,
reward:
n=43).
Across
fields,
behaviorally,
observed
converging
pattern
aberrant
with
history
ACEs,
independent
other
sample
characteristics,
specific
ACE
types,
outcome
measures.
Specifically,
blunted
was
reflected
reduced
discrimination
safety
cues,
primarily
driven
by
diminished
responding
conditioned
cues.
Furthermore,
attenuated
manifested
accuracy
rate
tasks
involving
acquisition
contingencies.
Importantly,
emerged
despite
substantial
heterogeneity
assessment
operationalization
across
both
fields.
conclude
that
represent
mechanistic
route
become
physiologically
neurobiologically
embedded
ultimately
confer
greater
closing,
discuss
potentially
fruitful
future
directions
research
field,
including
considerations.
Abstract
Adolescence
is
a
developmental
period
of
relative
volatility,
where
the
individual
experiences
significant
changes
to
their
physical
and
social
environment.
The
ability
adapt
volatility
one’s
surroundings
an
important
cognitive
ability,
particularly
while
foraging,
near-ubiquitous
behaviour
across
animal
kingdom.
As
adolescents
experience
more
in
surroundings,
we
predicted
that
this
age
group
would
be
adept
than
adults
at
using
exploration
adjust
volatility.
We
employed
foraging
task
with
well-validated
computational
model
characterise
mechanisms
volatile
environments,
preregistering
hypothesis
(aged
16–17;
N
=
91)
exhibit
optimal
adaptation
learning
rate
environmental
compared
24+;
90).
However,
surprisingly,
both
exhibited
suboptimal
adjustment
In
contrast
rate,
it
was
instead
participants’
stochasticity
(i.e.,
decision
variability)
better
resembled
made
by
RL
agent.
Although
heightened
environment
led
participants
often
trial
different
responses
facilitated
discovery
environment,
also
found
anxiety
impaired
adaptive
ability.
finding
environments
contradicts
expectations
responsible
for
successful
motivates
future
work
on
deleterious
role
plays
when
manage
periods
transition.
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. 106013 - 106013
Published: Jan. 1, 2025
Early-life
adversity
during
pre-
and
early
post-natal
phases
can
impact
brain
development
lead
to
maladaptive
changes
in
executive
behaviors.
This
increases
the
risk
for
a
range
of
psychopathologies
physical
diseases.
Importantly,
exposure
adversities
these
periods
is
also
linked
alterations
orbito-frontal
cortex
(OFC)
which
key
player
functions.
The
OFC
thus
appears
be
central
node
this
association
between
life
stress
disease
risk.
Gaining
clear,
detailed
understanding
stress,
function,
behaviors,
as
well
underlying
mechanisms
mediating
relevant
inform
potential
therapeutic
interventions.
In
paper,
we
begin
by
reviewing
evidence
linking
1)
behaviors
regulated
2)
anatomy
function.
We
then
present
insights
into
changes,
stemming
from
models,
highlight
important
future
directions
line
research.
European Journal of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
61(6)
Published: March 1, 2025
ABSTRACT
Explore–exploit
research
faces
challenges
in
generalizability
due
to
a
limited
theoretical
basis
for
exploration
and
exploitation.
Neuroimaging
can
help
identify
whether
explore–exploit
decisions
involve
an
opponent
processing
system
address
this
issue.
Thus,
we
conducted
coordinate‐based
meta‐analysis
(
N
=
23
studies)
finding
activation
the
dorsal
lateral
prefrontal
cortex,
anterior
insula,
cingulate
cortex
during
versus
exploitation,
which
provides
some
evidence
processing.
However,
conjunction
of
was
associated
with
medial
suggesting
that
these
brain
regions
do
not
engage
Furthermore,
exploratory
analyses
revealed
heterogeneity
responses
between
task
types
exploitation
respectively.
Coupled
results
is
generally
more
similar
than
it
different
suggests
there
remain
significant
characterizing
decision‐making.
Nonetheless,
differentiate
explore
exploit
decisions,
identifying
aid
targeted
interventions
aimed
at
manipulating
decisions.
Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
24(5), P. 793 - 815
Published: April 23, 2024
In
many
everyday
decisions,
individuals
choose
between
trialling
something
novel
or
they
know
well.
Deciding
when
to
try
a
new
option
stick
with
an
that
is
already
known
you,
as
the
"explore/exploit"
dilemma,
important
feature
of
cognition
characterises
range
decision-making
contexts
encountered
by
humans.
Recent
evidence
has
suggested
preferences
in
explore/exploit
biases
are
associated
psychopathology,
although
this
typically
been
examined
within
individual
disorders.
The
current
review
whether
represents
promising
transdiagnostic
target
for
psychosis,
depression,
and
anxiety.
A
systematic
search
academic
databases
was
conducted,
yielding
total
29
studies.
Studies
examining
psychosis
were
mostly
consistent
showing
explored
more
compared
without
psychosis.
literature
on
anxiety
depression
heterogenous;
some
studies
found
exploration,
whereas
other
demonstrated
reduced
exploration
depression.
However,
subset
employed
case-control
methods,
there
both
also
increased
exploration.
Due
heterogeneity
across
literature,
we
suggest
insufficient
conclude
alongside
our
advisory
groups
lived
experience
advisors,
context
candidate
merits
further
investigation
using
well-powered,
longitudinal
designs.
Such
work
should
examine
choices
amenable
intervention.
Although
early-life
adversity
can
undermine
healthy
development,
an
evolutionary-developmental
perspective
implies
that
children
growing
up
in
harsh
environments
will
develop
intact,
or
even
enhanced,
skills
for
solving
problems
high‐adversity
contexts
(i.e.,
'hidden
talents').
This
Element
situates
the
hidden
talents
model
within
a
larger
interdisciplinary
framework.
Summarizing
theory
and
research
on
talents,
it
proposes
stress-adapted
represent
form
of
adaptive
intelligence
enabling
individuals
to
function
constraints
environments.
It
discusses
potential
applications
this
multiple
sectors
concerned
with
youth
from
environments,
including
education,
social
services,
juvenile
justice,
compares
contemporary
developmental
resilience
models.
The
approach,
concludes,
offers
exciting
directions
childhood
adversity,
translational
implications
leveraging
more
effectively
tailor
jobs,
interventions
fit
needs
diverse
range
life
circumstances.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
27(11), P. 1085 - 1098
Published: July 25, 2023
Patch
foraging
is
a
near-ubiquitous
behaviour
across
the
animal
kingdom
and
characterises
many
decision-making
domains
encountered
by
humans.
We
review
how
disposition
to
explore
in
adolescence
may
reflect
evolutionary
conditions
under
which
hunter-gatherers
foraged
for
resources.
propose
that
neurocomputational
mechanisms
responsible
reward
processing,
learning,
cognitive
control
facilitate
transition
from
exploratory
strategies
exploitative
adulthood
-
where
individuals
capitalise
on
known
This
developmental
be
disrupted
psychopathology,
as
there
emerging
evidence
of
biases
explore/exploit
choices
mental
health
problems.
Explore/exploit
an
informative
marker
development
future
research
should
consider
this
feature
target
clinical
intervention.