The world’s largest brain study of childhood trauma has revealed how it affects development and rewires vital pathways.
The University of Essex study – led by the Department of Psychology’s Dr Megan Klabunde – uncovered a disruption in neural networks involved in self-focus and problem-solving.
“During childhood, the human brain undergoes rapid development, making it vulnerable to the external world experienced by a growing child. Childhood trauma produces severe stress on the brain and this can lead to significant changes such as depleted functioning and lasting structural alterations.”
This means under-18s who experienced abuse will likely struggle with emotions, empathy and understanding their bodies.
Dr Klabunde explained:
“Currently, science-based treatments for childhood trauma primarily focus on addressing the fearful thoughts and avoidance of trauma triggers.
“This is a very important part of trauma treatment. However, our study has revealed that we are only treating one part of the problem.
“Even when a child who has experienced trauma is not thinking about their traumatic experiences, their brains are struggling to process their sensations within their bodies.
“This influences how one thinks and feels about one’s ‘internal world’ and this also influences one’s ability to empathise and form relationships.”
Difficulties in school caused by memory, hard mental tasks and decision making may also emerge.
Dr Klabunde’s cutting-edge research used AI to re-examine hundreds of brain scans and identify patterns.
It is hoped the research will help hone new treatments for children who have endured mistreatment. This could mean therapists focus on techniques that rewire these centres and rebuild their sense of self.
Dr Klabunde reviewed 14 studies involving more than 580 children for the research published in Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.
The paper re-examined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. This procedure highlights blood flow in different centres, showing neurological activity. The study discovered a marked difference in traumatised children’s default mode (DMN) and central executive networks (CEN) – two large scale brain systems. The DMN and the posterior insula are involved in how people sense their body, the sense of self and their internal reflections. New studies are finding the DMN plays an important role in most mental health problems – and may be influenced by experiencing childhood trauma. The CEN is also more active than in healthy children, which means that children with trauma histories tend to ruminate and relive terrible experiences when triggered.
Dr Klabunde hopes this study will be a springboard to find out more about how trauma affects developing minds. She said:
“Our brain findings indicate that childhood trauma treatments appear to be missing an important piece of the puzzle.
“In addition to preventing avoidance of scary situations and addressing one’s thoughts, trauma therapies in children should also address how trauma’s impacts on one’s body, sense of self, emotional/empathetic processing, and relationships.
“This is important to do so since untreated symptoms will likely contribute to other health and mental health problems throughout the lifespan.”
Dr Klabunde worked with Dr Anna Hughes, also from the Department of Psychology, and Masters student Rebecca Ireton on the study.
An FMRI Meta-Analysis of Childhood Trauma is published in Biological Psychiatry
In 2022 Public Health Scotland published the report, Understanding adverse childhood experiences and trauma
The report looked in particular at the role Housing plays in this. It looked at the wider picture of Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, as it is known, and made the important link between it and issues of equality.
Dr Linda de Caestecker, Director of Public Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said:
‘We know that early childhood experiences can have a lasting impact on health, educational and social outcomes. To ensure that Scotland is the best place in the world for our children to grow up and our communities to thrive, we must work across the whole public sector system to prevent childhood adversity and trauma in children’s lives. This includes recognising safe, secure, affordable and nurturing housing environments are fundamental for health and wellbeing and creating equitable opportunities for everyone in our society.’
So whilst the research by Dr Klabunde of Essex University was looking at the effects on the way the brain ‘rewires’ itself to cope with ACEs, there’s also the practical side of how families can be supported by amongst others, housing providers. The report from Public Health Scotland tries to address these practical issues and to create better understanding of how ACEs affects children, young people, and adults as they cope with trauma in their childhood.
War and conflict have a devastating effect on children, physically, and mentally. In Gaza, thousands of children are left with horrific injuries, including the loss of limbs, and many will have parents killed in the bombardment. Disease, and starvation add to the trauma of those who have survived. Over 10,000 children have been killed – 1 child every 15 minutes – no one really knows how many because there are some buried in the rubble and unable to be rescued. Education and play is also denied them as classrooms are closed to provide shelters for the hundreds of thousands now homeless.
If the atrocity taking place in Gaza is ever to end, the lasting impact on Palestinian children will be immense. The trauma is incalculable.
Fiona Grahame
Categories: Science
