Subject:
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130 000 Cognitive Neurology & Memory 150 000 MR Techniques in Brain Function Radboudumc 13: Stress-related disorders DCMN: Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience Radboudumc 7: Neurodevelopmental disorders DCMN: Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience |
Organization:
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Cognitive Neuroscience Psychiatry PI Group Affective Neuroscience PI Group MR Techniques in Brain Function Donders Centre for Neuroscience Human Genetics PI Group Memory and Emotion |
Journal title:
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Neuropsychopharmacology (New York)
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Abstract:
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Childhood adversity (CA) has been associated with long-term structural brain alterations and an increased risk for psychiatric disorders. Evidence is emerging that subtypes of CA, varying in the dimensions of threat and deprivation, lead to distinct neural and behavioral outcomes. However, these specific associations have yet to be established without potential confounders such as psychopathology. Moreover, differences in neural development and psychopathology necessitate the exploration of sexual dimorphism. Young healthy adult subjects were selected based on history of CA from a large database to assess gray matter (GM) differences associated with specific subtypes of adversity. We compared voxel-based morphometry data of subjects reporting specific childhood exposure to abuse (n=127) or deprivation (n=126) and a similar sized group of controls (n=129) without reported CA. Subjects were matched on age, gender, and educational level. Differences between CA subtypes were found in the fusiform gyrus and middle occipital gyrus, where subjects with a history of deprivation showed reduced GM compared with subjects with a history of abuse. An interaction between sex and CA subtype was found. Women showed less GM in the visual posterior precuneal region after both subtypes of CA than controls. Men had less GM in the postcentral gyrus after childhood deprivation compared with abuse. Our results suggest that even in a healthy population, CA subtypes are related to specific alterations in brain structure, which are modulated by sex. These findings may help understand neurodevelopmental consequences related to CA.
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