Unveiling Invisible Scars: Largest Childhood Trauma Study Reveals Brain Rewiring
March 13, 2024
The University of Essex conducted the world’s largest study on childhood trauma, led by Dr. Megan Klabunde from the Department of Psychology. This groundbreaking research uncovered significant disruptions in neural networks crucial for self-focus and problem-solving in individuals under 18 who have experienced abuse. Such disruptions may manifest as difficulties in managing emotions, empathy, and bodily awareness, potentially leading to academic challenges related to memory, cognitive tasks, and decision-making.
Dr. Klabunde employed advanced AI techniques to analyze hundreds of brain scans, identifying distinctive patterns associated with childhood trauma. The findings offer hope for the development of targeted interventions aimed at rewiring these affected brain centers and restoring a sense of self in affected children. Dr. Klabunde emphasized the need to broaden treatment approaches beyond addressing traumatic thoughts and triggers, highlighting the importance of addressing sensory processing difficulties.
Published in Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, the study reviewed 14 research papers involving over 580 children and re-examined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to pinpoint alterations in the default mode (DMN) and central executive networks (CEN) among traumatized children.
CREDITS: SCI TECH DAILY NEWS