How Childhood Abuse Changes the Brain

How Childhood Abuse Changes the Brain Relationships Violence and Abuse Print How Childhood Abuse Changes the Brain By Leonard Holmes Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD on November 17, 2019 twitter linkedin Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Daniel B. Block, MD Updated on January 29, 2020 Martin Dimitrov / Getty Images More in Relationships Violence and Abuse Spouses & Partners LGBTQ Studies have demonstrated over and over that childhood abuse and neglect results in permanent changes to the developing human brain. These changes in brain structure appear to be significant enough to potentially cause psychological and emotional problems in adulthood, such as psychological disorders and/or substance abuse. MRI Dr. Martin Teicher and his colleagues at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Northeastern University, used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to identify measured changes in brain structure among young adults who had experienced childhood abuse or neglect.?? There were clear differences in nine brain regions between those who had suffered childhood trauma and those who had not. The most obvious changes were in the brain regions that help balance emotions and impulses, as well as self-centered thinking. The results indicate that people who have been through childhood abuse or neglect have a higher risk of substance abuse if they go down that path because they have a harder time controlling their urges and making rational decisions due to actual physical changes in their brain development. When people experienced three or more types of abuse (sexual, physical, verbal, neglect), 53 percent suffered from major depression at some point in their lives. Forty percent had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Brain Structure There are many negative effects of childhood abuse and neglect on how the brain develops. Some of these potential effects are:?? A decrease in the size of the hippocampus, which is important in learning and memoryA decrease in  the size of the corpus callosum; the primary function of the corpus callosum is to integrate cortical functioningâ€"motor, sensory, and cognitive performancesâ€"between the hemispheres.A decrease in the size of the cerebellum, which can affect motor skills and coordinationA decrease in the volume of the prefrontal cortex, which affects behavior, balancing emotions and perceptionToo much activity in the amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions and determining reactions to potentially stressful or dangerous situationsDysfunction at different levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis Behavior, Emotions, and Social Function Because childhood abuse, neglect and trauma change  brain structure and chemical function, maltreatment can also affect the way children behave, regulate emotion and function socially. These potential effects include: Feeling fearful most or all of the timeBeing constantly on alert and unable to relax, no matter the situationA tendency to develop depression or an anxiety disorderLearning deficitsNot hitting developmental milestones in a timely fashionA weakened ability to process positive feedbackFinding social situations more challenging Other Factors of Maltreatment How childhood abuse or neglect affects an adult depends also on how often the abuse occurred; what age the child was during the abuse; who the abuser was; whether or not the child had a dependable, loving adult in her life as well; how long the abuse lasted; if there were any interventions in the abuse; the kind and severity of the abuse; and other individual factors.