The Anterior Cingulate Cortex Activity in response to Stress  in young adults with Childhood Experiences of Threat and Deprivation

Experiences of childhood adversity are adverse experiences during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, poverty, and family dysfunction. These adverse experiences might make individuals vulnerable to mental health problems through their effect on brain development and brain functioning. Different dimensions of childhood adversity could have different effects on the brain and mental health. The exact mechanisms through which childhood adversity is related to the brain are not clear yet. The current study investigated the role of total childhood adversity, threat, and deprivation on anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress in young people of age 16-26 (N=60). A cumulative approach was used to look at the role of total childhood adversity on anterior cingulate cortex-activity, a dimensional approach investigated the separate roles of the two dimensions threat and deprivation. Participants filled out a retrospective questionnaire about childhood adversity experiences (CTQ)...Show moreExperiences of childhood adversity are adverse experiences during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, poverty, and family dysfunction. These adverse experiences might make individuals vulnerable to mental health problems through their effect on brain development and brain functioning. Different dimensions of childhood adversity could have different effects on the brain and mental health. The exact mechanisms through which childhood adversity is related to the brain are not clear yet. The current study investigated the role of total childhood adversity, threat, and deprivation on anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress in young people of age 16-26 (N=60). A cumulative approach was used to look at the role of total childhood adversity on anterior cingulate cortex-activity, a dimensional approach investigated the separate roles of the two dimensions threat and deprivation. Participants filled out a retrospective questionnaire about childhood adversity experiences (CTQ) and underwent a stressful fMRI task (MIST). Childhood adversity, threat and deprivation were expected to show a negative relationship with anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress. The current study showed no evidence for a relationship between total childhood adversity and anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress, nor for a relationship between the separate dimensions of threat and deprivation and anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress. More research is needed to further study the underlying mechanisms by which childhood adversity is associated with brain development to help improve mental health in young people.Show less

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The Anterior Cingulate Cortex Activity in response to Stress in young adults with Childhood Experiences of Threat and Deprivation