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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
Published on: July 1, 2014
Converging evidence for abnormalities of the prefrontal cortex and evaluation of midsagittal structures in pediatric
Victor G Carrion1, Carl F Weems, Christa Watson
1Stanford University School of Medicine, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford, CA, United States. vcarrion@stanford.edu
Insights
Pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to abnormal brain morphology, particularly in the prefrontal cortex and brainstem. Research shows altered gray matter volume and density in children with PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Volumetric imaging studies reveal distinct brain morphology differences in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Understanding pediatric PTSD brain morphology is crucial for early intervention and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain morphology in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and midline structures in pediatric PTSD using volumetric and voxel-based analyses.
- To test hypotheses of aberrant PFC morphology, brainstem anatomy, and corpus callosum volume in children with PTSD.
Main Methods:
- Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) was performed on 24 children with PTSD and 24 matched controls (aged 7-14).
- Analyses included volumetric image analysis of the PFC and midline structures, and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) using statistical parametric mapping (SPM).
Main Results:
- Volumetric analysis revealed increased gray matter volume in the PFC (inferior and superior quadrants) and reduced volume in the pons and posterior vermis in children with PTSD.
- Voxel-by-voxel comparisons showed increased gray matter density primarily in the ventral PFC in the pediatric PTSD group.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal frontal lobe morphology and reduced pons/posterior vermis areas are associated with pediatric PTSD.
- Combined volumetric and voxel-based morphometry methods provide complementary insights into PTSD-related brain alterations in children.
Abstract:
Volumetric imaging research has shown abnormal brain morphology in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when compared with control subjects. We present results on a study of brain morphology in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and midline structures, via indices of gray matter volume and density, in pediatric PTSD. We hypothesized that both methods would demonstrate aberrant morphology in the PFC. Further, we hypothesized aberrant brainstem anatomy and reduced corpus callosum volume in children with PTSD. Twenty-four children (aged 7-14) with history of interpersonal trauma and 24 age- and gender-matched controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). Images of the PFC and midline brain structures were first analyzed using volumetric image analysis. The PFC data were then compared with whole brain voxel-based techniques using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). The PTSD group showed significantly increased gray matter volume in the right and left inferior and superior quadrants of the PFC and smaller gray matter volume in the pons and posterior vermis areas by volumetric image analysis. The voxel-by-voxel group comparisons demonstrated increased gray matter density mostly localized to ventral PFC as compared with the control group. Abnormal frontal lobe morphology, as revealed by separate-complementary image analysis methods, and reduced pons and posterior vermis areas are associated with pediatric PTSD. Voxel-based morphometry may help to corroborate and further localize data obtained by volume of interest methods in PTSD.
