Abstract
Throughout life, the developing organism is shaped by a combination of genetic disposition and environmental circumstances exerting differential effects on mental health. The key factors either promoting risk or resilience change throughout the life span, starting with cortisol levels in the womb, physical contact in infancy, and going from adversity and model learning in childhood to stressful life events and social support in adulthood. Genetic variability associated with key systems at the interface with these factors, such as the fight-or-flight and tend-and-befriend systems, may modulate the impact of both negative and positive influences. This may be mediated by altering the function of brain regions and circuits relevant for these behaviors, including the frontal cortex, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. Findings summarizing how gene×environment interactions impact these systems across development are presented and discussed in the light of their contribution to resilience.
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