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Early developmental emergence of human amygdala-prefrontal connectivity after maternal deprivation

Dylan G Gee1, Laurel J Gabard-Durnam, Jessica Flannery

  • 1Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Services, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|September 11, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Early adversity, like maternal deprivation, accelerates brain development in children, leading to mature medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and amygdala connections. This adaptation, mediated by cortisol, may reduce anxiety despite higher overall levels.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and amygdala connectivity matures from childhood to adolescence.
  • Maternal deprivation in rodents accelerates this neurodevelopmental trajectory.
  • Early institutionalization in humans serves as a model for early maternal deprivation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate amygdala-mPFC connectivity phenotypes in previously institutionalized youths.
  • To explore the role of cortisol and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in mediating these changes.
  • To understand the adaptive significance of accelerated neurodevelopment in response to early adversity.

Main Methods:

  • Functional connectivity analysis of amygdala-mPFC circuits.
  • Assessment of cortisol levels and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity.
  • Comparison of connectivity patterns between previously institutionalized children and comparison groups.

Main Results:

  • Previously institutionalized children showed mature, negative amygdala-mPFC coupling, unlike comparison children's immature, positive coupling.
  • This mature connectivity pattern resembled the adolescent phenotype.
  • Cortisol mediated the observed connectivity, indicating stress-induced HPA axis influence.
  • Negative coupling conferred some anxiety reduction, though anxiety remained elevated in the institutionalized group.

Conclusions:

  • Accelerated amygdala-mPFC development is an ontogenetic adaptation to early life stress.
  • Stress hormones like cortisol play a crucial role in shaping brain circuitry development.
  • This neurodevelopmental adaptation may offer partial protection against anxiety in the context of early adversity.

Keywords:
emotion regulationfMRIneurodevelopmentstress

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