Synopsis

This session addresses the use of structural and functional MRI to study the mechanisms through which the early environment influences risk for psychiatric disorders. Learning objectives are as follows: (1) Understand the concept of developmental programming; (2) Identify mechanisms through which prenatal conditions can influence the developing brain; (3) Learn how functional and structural MRI with infants has been used to advance understanding of developmental programming; and (4) Understand the potential for clinical intervention research to lend an experimental framework to the study of early human brain development.