Negative childhood experiences alter a prefrontal-insular-motor cortical network in healthy adults: A preliminary multimodal rsfMRI-fMRI-MRS-dMRI study.
Research in humans and animals has shown that negative childhood experiences (NCE) can have long-term effects on the structure and function of the brain. Alterations have been noted in grey and white matter, in the brain's resting state, on the glutamatergic system, and on neural and behavioural responses to aversive stimuli. These effects can be linked to psychiatric disorder such as depression and anxiety disorders that are influenced by excessive exposure to early life stressors. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of NCEs on these systems. Resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI), aversion task fMRI, glutamate magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) were combined with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) in healthy subjects to examine the impact of NCEs on the brain. Low CTQ scores, a measure of NCEs, were related to higher resting state glutamate levels and higher resting state entropy in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). CTQ scores, mPFC glutamate and entropy, correlated with neural BOLD responses to the anticipation of aversive stimuli in regions throughout the aversion-related network, with strong correlations between all measures in the motor cortex and left insula. Structural connectivity strength, measured using mean fractional anisotropy, between the mPFC and left insula correlated to aversion-related signal changes in the motor cortex. These findings highlight the impact of NCEs on multiple inter-related brain systems. In particular, they highlight the role of a prefrontal-insular-motor cortical network in the processing and responsivity to aversive stimuli and its potential adaptability by NCEs.
Graduate Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Brain and Consciousness Research Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.|Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.|Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Niall W
NW
Duncan
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto and Division of Brain Imaging and Behaviour Systems Neuroscience, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Dave J
DJ
Hayes
Cluster of Excellence in Cognitive Sciences, Department of Sociology of Physical Activity and Health, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Christine
C
Wiebking
Functional Neuroimaging Unit and Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Brice
B
Tiret
Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Karin
K
Pietruska
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto and Division of Brain Imaging and Behaviour Systems Neuroscience, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
David Q
DQ
Chen
Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Pierre
P
Rainville
Center for Magnetic Resonance Research and Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Małgorzata
M
Marjańska
Graduate Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Omar
O
Ayad
Functional Neuroimaging Unit and Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Julien
J
Doyon
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto and Division of Brain Imaging and Behaviour Systems Neuroscience, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Mojgan
M
Hodaie
Graduate Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Brain and Consciousness Research Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.|Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.|Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Georg
G
Northoff
D000328:Adult; D000069586:Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
affect; aversion; brain networks; early life stress; mood disorder; resting state