Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice
04:20

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Published on: July 12, 2024

Early care experiences and HPA axis regulation in children: a mechanism for later trauma vulnerability

Megan R Gunnar1, Karina M Quevedo

  • 1Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. gunnar@umn.edu

Progress in Brain Research
|November 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood neglect can alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, potentially increasing the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) later in life. Transient HPA axis disruptions may impact brain development and PTSD vulnerability.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis dysfunction.
  • Childhood neglect and abuse may impair social regulation of the HPA axis, affecting brain development and later trauma processing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term impact of early HPA axis dysregulation due to adverse care on PTSD vulnerability.
  • To explore whether transient alterations in cortisol levels and HPA function in early life affect brain development and heighten susceptibility to PTSD.

Main Methods:

  • The study reviews existing evidence on HPA axis function in children exposed to neglect or abuse.
  • It examines research on cortisol levels and their diurnal patterns in vulnerable populations.
  • The focus is on the potential for early imprinting effects on HPA regulation and brain development.

Main Results:

  • Low cortisol levels are frequently observed in abused, neglected, and deprived children.
  • Altered cortisol patterns associated with early adversity may be reversible with improved care.
  • The long-term consequences of transient HPA axis alterations on PTSD risk remain understudied.

Conclusions:

  • Early parenting quality may influence HPA axis regulation, contributing to PTSD risk.
  • Transient HPA axis abnormalities in childhood could have lasting effects on brain development and PTSD vulnerability.
  • Further research is needed to understand the impact of temporary early-life HPA dysfunction on later-life trauma response.

More Related Videos

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood08:09

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder01:27

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle01:27

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...