BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment has been associated with significant impairment in social, emotional and behavioural functioning later in life. Nevertheless, some individuals who have experienced childhood maltreatment function better than expected given their circumstances. MAIN BODY Here, we provide an integrated understanding of the complex, interrelated mechanisms that facilitate such individual resilient functioning after childhood maltreatment. We aim to show that resilient functioning is not facilitated by any single 'resilience biomarker'. Rather, resilient functioning after childhood maltreatment is a product of complex processes and influences across multiple levels, ranging from 'bottom-up' polygenetic influences, to 'top-down' supportive social influences. We highlight the complex nature of resilient functioning and suggest how future studies could embrace a complexity theory approach and investigate multiple levels of biological organisation and their temporal dynamics in a longitudinal or prospective manner. This would involve using methods and tools that allow the characterisation of resilient functioning trajectories, attractor states and multidimensional/multilevel assessments of functioning. Such an approach necessitates large, longitudinal studies on the neurobiological mechanisms of resilient functioning after childhood maltreatment that cut across and integrate multiple levels of explanation (i.e. genetics, endocrine and immune systems, brain structure and function, cognition and environmental factors) and their temporal interconnections. CONCLUSION We conclude that a turn towards complexity is likely to foster collaboration and integration across fields. It is a promising avenue which may guide future studies aimed to promote resilience in those who have experienced childhood maltreatment.

中文翻译：

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儿童虐待后弹性功能的复杂神经生物学。

背景童年虐待与以后生活中的社会、情感和行为功能的显着损害有关。然而，考虑到他们的情况，一些经历过童年虐待的人的表现好于预期。主体在这里，我们提供了对复杂的、相互关联的机制的综合理解，这些机制在儿童虐待后促进了这种个体的弹性功能。我们的目标是表明任何单一的“弹性生物标志物”都不会促进弹性功能。相反，童年虐待后的弹性功能是复杂过程和跨多个层次影响的产物，从“自下而上”的多基因影响到“自上而下”的支持性社会影响。我们强调弹性功能的复杂性，并建议未来的研究如何采用复杂性理论方法，并以纵向或前瞻性的方式研究生物组织的多个层次及其时间动态。这将涉及使用允许表征弹性功能轨迹、吸引子状态和多维/多层次功能评估的方法和工具。这种方法需要对儿童虐待后恢复功能的神经生物学机制进行大规模的纵向研究，这些机制跨越并整合了多个解释层次（即遗传学、内分泌和免疫系统、大脑结构和功能、认知和环境因素）及其时间关联. 结论 我们得出结论，转向复杂性可能会促进跨领域的协作和整合。这是一个很有前途的途径，可以指导未来的研究，旨在提高那些经历过童年虐待的人的复原力。