Hypoactive medial prefrontal cortex functioning in adults reporting childhood emotional maltreatment.
Childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) has adverse effects on medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) morphology, a structure that is crucial for cognitive functioning and (emotional) memory and which modulates the limbic system. In addition, CEM has been linked to amygdala hyperactivity during emotional face processing. However, no study has yet investigated the functional neural correlates of neutral and emotional memory in adults reporting CEM. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated CEM-related differential activations in mPFC during the encoding and recognition of positive, negative and neutral words. The sample (N = 194) consisted of patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders and healthy controls (HC) reporting CEM (n = 96) and patients and HC reporting no abuse (n = 98). We found a consistent pattern of mPFC hypoactivation during encoding and recognition of positive, negative and neutral words in individuals reporting CEM. These results were not explained by psychopathology or severity of depression or anxiety symptoms, or by gender, level of neuroticism, parental psychopathology, negative life events, antidepressant use or decreased mPFC volume in the CEM group. These findings indicate mPFC hypoactivity in individuals reporting CEM during emotional and neutral memory encoding and recognition. Our findings suggest that CEM may increase individuals' risk to the development of psychopathology on differential levels of processing in the brain; blunted mPFC activation during higher order processing and enhanced amygdala activation during automatic/lower order emotion processing. These findings are vital in understanding the long-term consequences of CEM.
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la
Anne-Laura
AL
van Harmelen
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Marie-José
MJ
van Tol
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Tim
T
Dalgleish
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Nic J A
NJ
van der Wee
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Dick J
DJ
Veltman
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
André
A
Aleman
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Philip
P
Spinhoven
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Brenda W J H
BW
Penninx
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Postzone C2-S, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands, Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, the Netherlands, Department of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK, CB2 2QQ, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands, Neuro-imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, and Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 29713 AW Groningen, the Netherlands, Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 7EF, and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Bernet M
BM
Elzinga
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*
Anxiety; childhood abuse; depression; emotional maltreatment; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); medial prefrontal cortex (PFC)