Hippocampal Subfields Volume Reduction in High Schoolers with Previous Verbal Abuse Experiences

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Emotional maltreatment in adults is associated with reduced hippocampal volume and white matter abnormalities.
• Verbal abuse (VA) is a common form of emotional maltreatment with potential neurodevelopmental consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate structural brain changes in adolescents with a history of verbal abuse (VA).
• To examine the relationship between VA exposure and hippocampal subfield volumes and white matter integrity.

Main Methods:

• Assessed hippocampal subfield volumes and white matter structural connectivity in 31 male high school students.
• Quantified exposure to parental and peer verbal abuse (VA).

Main Results:

• Adolescents with high VA exposure showed reduced left cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and left subiculum volumes.
• Higher VA scores correlated with reduced volumes in left CA1 and subiculum.
• Increased mean diffusivity (MD) in the splenium of the corpus callosum was associated with VA exposure.
• An inverse relationship was observed between hippocampal subfield volumes and splenium MD.

Conclusions:

• Parental and peer verbal abuse (VA) may impact the development of left hippocampal subfields and the splenium of the corpus callosum during adolescence.
• Structural brain alterations associated with VA are detectable in adolescent populations.