Aberrant structural connectivity in childhood maltreatment: A meta-analysis
Lena Lim1, Henrietta Howells2, Joaquim Radua3
1Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Imperial College London - Nanyang Technological University Singapore, 636921 Singapore; Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF UK.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|July 14, 2020
Summary
Childhood maltreatment is linked to widespread white matter (WM) abnormalities, particularly affecting the fornix and corpus callosum. This meta-analysis reveals reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in key neural pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Childhood maltreatment is a significant public health issue with long-term consequences.
- Previous studies suggest alterations in white matter (WM) microstructure following maltreatment.
- A comprehensive meta-analysis is needed to consolidate findings on WM abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct the first meta-analysis of voxel-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies on childhood maltreatment.
- To identify specific regions of WM microstructure abnormality in maltreated individuals compared to controls.
- To elucidate the impact of maltreatment on neural pathways.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of 14 DTI datasets, including 386 individuals with childhood maltreatment and 612 controls.
- Voxel-based meta-analytic method: Anisotropic effect-size signed differential mapping.
- Examination of fractional anisotropy (FA) as a measure of WM microstructure.
Main Results:
- Significantly reduced FA observed in maltreated individuals across multiple WM tracts.
- Key affected regions include the left anterior thalamic radiation, bilateral fornix, optic radiations, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus, and anterior corpus callosum.
- No regions showed increased FA; reduced FA in the corpus callosum persisted in unmedicated/drug-free subgroups.
Conclusions:
- Childhood maltreatment is associated with widespread WM microstructural abnormalities.
- Compromised neural pathways, including the fornix, corpus callosum, and optic radiations, may affect the processing of aversive experiences.
- Findings highlight the neurobiological impact of early life adversity.
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