We see similar patterns of brain activation in soldiers after exposure to combat. Recent research suggests neglect can have the same impact. HypervigilanceĬhildren exposed to abuse and domestic violence are better at identifying anger in other peoples’ faces and show heightened brain reactivity to angry faces in several brain structures, including the amygdala and insula. Changes to the threat system can lead to two outcomes – a pattern of hypervigilance to threat and/or of excessive avoidance. Research has shown that exposure to domestic violence, neglect and physical abuse can lead to long-lasting alterations in how the brain responds to danger. However, abuse and neglect create a world where danger is unpredictable and punishment can be extreme. Stress and threat are a normal part of life. We can avoid a fast-approaching vehicle on the road or quickly brush off a spider on our shirt. The threat-processing system in our brain allows us to detect and respond promptly to danger (e.g. Research has observed brain changes following experiences of abuse and neglect in several brain systems here we focus on the threat processing system, the reward processing system and the autobiographical memory system. Such vulnerability may not be immediately obvious but unfolds over time, in part through the child’s social relationships. Over time, this can increase the risk of later mental health problems. They may mean a child has more difficulty in adjusting to and navigating more predictable environments, such as a stable and safe foster placement or school. While brain changes described above may have short-term advantages, they can have negative consequences in the long-term. We will look at three examples below in relation to threat, reward and autobiographical memory. The plasticity of our brain allows us to learn and find new ways to cope in such conditions. That is, children (and their brains) adapt to cope and survive in dangerous and unpredictable environments. While this may happen, following extreme neglect for example, other brain changes can arise as a result of adaptation. However, when adults grossly fail to provide a ‘good-enough’ early environment – which is nurturing, safe, consistent and stimulating – the consequences on brain development can be profound.Īlterations in brain development following childhood maltreatment have sometimes been interpreted as a sign of ‘damage’. There is no such thing as a perfect parent. All children require nurturing adults who care for and value them – attending to their physical, emotional and social needs, and protecting them from danger. The brain is highly influenced by our early experiences, and in particular early relationships. The impact of childhood maltreatment on brain development A larger proportion of adults report having experienced significant abuse and neglect during development. In high-income countries, such as the UK, it has been estimated that about one in five children experience a form of maltreatment during childhood. We do not know the exact number as maltreatment often goes unreported or is hidden from view. How common is childhood maltreatment?Ī substantial minority of children experience abuse and neglect while growing up. Different maltreatment types tend to co-occur and overlap for the majority of children who experience them. Witnessing domestic violence has also increasingly been recognised as a form of maltreatment. Acts of omission, such as emotional and physical neglect, include psychosocial deprivation and the systematic failure of a caregiver to protect a child and prevent harm. Acts of commission include physical, sexual and emotional abuse.Unlike other types of early adversity or single traumatic incidents – such as poverty, illness or loss of a family member – childhood maltreatment occurs primarily in the context of relationships of power and trust – such as those with parents or caregivers.Ĭommonly been subdivided within two main categories: We can think of it as any form of behaviour that violates a child’s dignity or poses a threat to their physical and emotional well-being. There are many definitions of childhood maltreatment.
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