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Lower structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus is associated with a history of child maltreatment and future psychological vulnerability to stress.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hanson, JL; Knodt, AR; Brigidi, BD; Hariri, AR
Published in: Development and psychopathology
November 2015

The experience of child maltreatment is a significant risk factor for the development of later internalizing disorders such as depression and anxiety. This risk is particularly heightened after exposure to additional, more contemporaneous stress. While behavioral evidence exists for such "stress sensitization," little is known about the mechanisms mediating such relationships, particularly within the brain. Here we report that the experience of child maltreatment independent of recent life stress, gender, and age is associated with reduced structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus, a major white matter pathway between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, in young adults. We further demonstrate that individuals with lower uncinate fasciculus integrity at baseline who subsequently experience stressful life events report higher levels of internalizing symptomatology at follow-up. Our findings suggest a novel neurobiological mechanism linking child maltreatment with later internalizing symptoms, specifically altered structural connectivity within the brain's threat-detection and emotion-regulation circuitry.

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Published In

Development and psychopathology

DOI

EISSN

1469-2198

ISSN

0954-5794

Publication Date

November 2015

Volume

27

Issue

4 Pt 2

Start / End Page

1611 / 1619

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • White Matter
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Neural Pathways
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
 

Citation

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Hanson, J. L., Knodt, A. R., Brigidi, B. D., & Hariri, A. R. (2015). Lower structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus is associated with a history of child maltreatment and future psychological vulnerability to stress. Development and Psychopathology, 27(4 Pt 2), 1611–1619. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579415000978
Hanson, Jamie L., Annchen R. Knodt, Bartholomew D. Brigidi, and Ahmad R. Hariri. “Lower structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus is associated with a history of child maltreatment and future psychological vulnerability to stress.Development and Psychopathology 27, no. 4 Pt 2 (November 2015): 1611–19. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579415000978.
Hanson JL, Knodt AR, Brigidi BD, Hariri AR. Lower structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus is associated with a history of child maltreatment and future psychological vulnerability to stress. Development and psychopathology. 2015 Nov;27(4 Pt 2):1611–9.
Hanson, Jamie L., et al. “Lower structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus is associated with a history of child maltreatment and future psychological vulnerability to stress.Development and Psychopathology, vol. 27, no. 4 Pt 2, Nov. 2015, pp. 1611–19. Epmc, doi:10.1017/s0954579415000978.
Hanson JL, Knodt AR, Brigidi BD, Hariri AR. Lower structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus is associated with a history of child maltreatment and future psychological vulnerability to stress. Development and psychopathology. 2015 Nov;27(4 Pt 2):1611–1619.
Journal cover image

Published In

Development and psychopathology

DOI

EISSN

1469-2198

ISSN

0954-5794

Publication Date

November 2015

Volume

27

Issue

4 Pt 2

Start / End Page

1611 / 1619

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • White Matter
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Neural Pathways
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female