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Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
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Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

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The relationship between changes in functional networks and cognitive changes and PTSD symptoms in maltreated

Ana Munguia1, Feggy Ostrosky1, Asucena Lozano1

  • 1Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico.

Behavioural Brain Research
|June 5, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Childhood maltreatment impacts brain connectivity and cognitive functions. Trauma-focused therapy improved PTSD symptoms, correlating with brain network changes and enhanced attention and memory performance in abused children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Child maltreatment is linked to neuropsychological deficits and altered functional brain connectivity.
  • Abused children often exhibit increased salience network (SN) connectivity and decreased default mode network (DMN) and central executive network (CEN) connectivity.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can exacerbate cognitive and psychological issues in maltreated children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), PTSD symptoms, and neuropsychological outcomes in abused children.
  • To examine the effects of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) on RSFC, PTSD symptoms, and cognitive functions in this population.
  • To compare brain connectivity and cognitive performance between abused children with PTSD and a control group.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 13 abused children with PTSD and 10 controls, matched for age and gender.
  • Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess brain connectivity.
  • Conducted neuropsychological assessments (attention, memory, executive functions) and clinical evaluations before and after TF-CBT.

Main Results:

  • Changes in PTSD symptoms correlated with alterations in the left insula's connectivity.
  • Significant correlations were found between DMN connectivity changes and performance in attention and memory tasks.
  • TF-CBT led to improvements in PTSD symptoms, which were associated with changes in brain network connectivity.

Conclusions:

  • TF-CBT is effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in abused children, accompanied by measurable changes in brain functional connectivity.
  • Resting-state functional connectivity patterns, particularly within the DMN, are associated with cognitive recovery after trauma-focused therapy.
  • Neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessments can track treatment progress and highlight the neural underpinnings of recovery from childhood maltreatment and PTSD.

Keywords:
AttentionMaltreatmentMemoryNeuropsychologyPTSDRSFC

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