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A brain study of childhood trauma has revealed how it affects development and rewires vital pathways.
The University of Essex study, led by Dr Megan Klabunde from the Department of Psychology, found a disruption in neural networks involved in self-focus and problem solving. The results are published in the journal Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neurosciences and Neuroimaging.
This suggests that people under the age of 18 who have experienced violence will likely have difficulty managing their emotions, empathy and understanding their bodies. Academic difficulties caused by memory, difficult mental tasks and decision-making may also appear.
Dr. Klabunde’s groundbreaking research used AI to re-examine hundreds of brain scans and identify patterns. It is hoped that the research will help develop new treatments for abused children. This could mean that therapists could focus on techniques to rewire these centers and reconstruct patients’ sense of self.
Dr. Klabunde said: “Currently, scientific treatments for childhood trauma primarily focus on treating fearful thoughts and avoiding trauma triggers. This is a very important part of trauma treatment. However, our study revealed that we are only addressing one part of the problem. Even when a child who has experienced trauma doesn’t think about their traumatic experiences, their brain has difficulty processing their sensations in their body. This influences how one thinks and feels about their “internal world” and it also influences one’s ability to empathize and form relationships.
Dr. Klabunde reviewed 14 studies involving more than 580 children for the research, which re-examined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. This procedure highlights blood flow in different centers, showing neurological activity.
The study discovered a marked difference between traumatized children’s default mode (DMN) and central executive networks (CEN), two large-scale brain systems. The DMN and posterior insula are involved in how people perceive their bodies, their self-perception, and their internal reflections.
New studies reveal that the DMN plays an important role in most mental health problems and may be influenced by childhood trauma. The CEN is also more active than in healthy children, meaning that children with a history of trauma tend to ruminate and relive terrible experiences when triggered.
Dr. Klabunde hopes this study will serve as a springboard for learning more about how trauma affects developing minds.
She said: “Our brain findings indicate that treatments for childhood trauma appear to be missing an important piece of the puzzle. In addition to preventing fearful situations and responding to our thoughts, anti-trauma therapies in children should also address the impact of trauma on the body. sense of self, emotional/empathetic processing, and relationships. It is important to do this because untreated symptoms will likely contribute to other health and mental health problems throughout life.
Dr. Klabunde worked on this study with Dr. Anna Hughes, also from the Department of Psychology, and master’s student Rebecca Ireton.
More information:
Rebecca Ireton et al, An FMRI meta-analysis of childhood trauma, Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neurosciences and Neuroimaging (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.01.009
Provided by University of Essex
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