Citation

Tymofiyeva O, Hu R, Kidambi R, Nguyen C, Max JE, Yang TT. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 2022; 16: e1022791.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Frontiers Research Foundation)

DOI

10.3389/fnhum.2022.1022791

PMID

36561836

PMCID

PMC9764002

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Childhood trauma is known to have dramatic effects on the risks for developing psychiatric disorders and increased suicidality. We conducted a meta-analysis of whole brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) correlates of childhood trauma in adolescents exposed to childhood maltreatment (N = 379) and unexposed controls (N = 348).

METHODS: Anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping (AES-SDM) was utilized to synthesize the studies.

RESULTS: We observed increased volume amongst adolescents with a history of childhood trauma in regions that are involved in motor functions and language production: left precentral gyrus, including part of the left inferior frontal gyrus, left fibers of the body of corpus callosum, and left postcentral gyrus. We observed decreased volume amongst adolescents with a history of childhood trauma in regions that are involved in language processing and/or sensory processing: bilateral cerebellum, bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left rostrum of corpus callosum, and bilateral supramarginal gyrus.

DISCUSSION: We suggest that these morphometric differences may be reflective of impaired motor development and increased sensory sensitivity and hypervigilance in adolescents with experiences of childhood trauma. Our results differ from meta-analytical findings in adults with history of childhood trauma and may contribute to a better understanding of neural mechanisms of childhood trauma, prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes, and development of more effective and personalized therapies.

Language: en

Keywords

child maltreatment; childhood trauma; adolescent brain; brain development; VBM