Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Psychology

Supervisor

Morton, J. Bruce

Abstract

Preadolescence is a critical developmental phase characterized by changes in the functional connectivity (FC) between the cortex and amygdala, which are essential for emotional processing and regulation. Early life adversity (ELA), such as exposure to childhood maltreatment, familial dysfunction, and poverty, is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes (Felitti et al., 1998). Emerging research indicates that disturbances in cortico-amygdala FC could act as a mechanism linking ELA to various mental health issues; however, most focus on adult populations and overlook individual differences. Here, intersubject representational similarity analysis (IS-RSA) was leveraged to explore how individual variations in ELA relate to differences in bilateral cortico-amygdala FC within a large preadolescent cohort (N= 745). A significant positive association between ELA and cortico-amygdala FC was found after controlling for sex, and this association generalized across resting-state acquisitions. These findings demonstrate the potential neural embedding of ELA on neural circuits involved in emotional regulation.

Summary for Lay Audience

During preadolescence, significant changes occur in how specific brain regions— specifically those involved in emotional regulation and fear—connect and communicate. Early life adversities (ELA) such as neglect, abuse, and poverty are known to have a lasting impact on mental health and well-being (Felitti et al., 1998). Research tells us that ELA can lead to early changes in brain connectivity, which may contribute to these mental health challenges. However, previous studies have primarily focused on adults, with little exploration of how unique histories of ELA relate to brain connectivity. In this study, we asked the question of whether preadolescents (mean age = 9.5) with similar ELA histories would also be similar in their brain connectivity patterns. By using a large sample of preadolescents (N = 745) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study, we found that preadolescents with similar ELA histories also had similar brain connectivity patterns between the cortex and amygdala, regions essential for emotional processing and regulation. This relationship suggests that ELA may impact brain areas associated with emotional regulation among preadolescents. Understanding these connections can provide insights into how early adversities shape mental health outcomes and may help in identify interventions for children who experience ELA.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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