Danqing Huang1, Zhening Liu1, Hengyi Cao2, Jie Yang1, Zhipeng Wu1, Yicheng Long3. 1. Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China. 2. Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Hempstead, New York, United States; Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, New York, United States. Electronic address: hengyi.cao@hotmail.com. 3. Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China. Electronic address: yichenglong@csu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Both childhood trauma and disruptions in brain functional networks are implicated in the development of psychiatric disorders in early adulthood. However, the relationships between these two factors remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether and how childhood trauma would relate to changes of functional network dynamics in young adults. METHODS: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 53 young healthy adults, whose childhood trauma histories were assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Network switching rate, a measure of stability of dynamic brain networks over time, was calculated at both global and local levels for each participant. Switching rates at both levels were compared between participants with and without childhood trauma, and further correlated with CTQ total score. RESULTS: In the current sample, 19 (35.8%) participants reported a history of childhood trauma. At the global level, participants with childhood trauma showed significantly higher network switching rates than those without trauma (F = 10.021, p = 0.003). A significant positive correlation was found between network switching rates and CTQ scores in the entire sample (r = 0.378, p = 0.007). At the local level, these effects were mainly observed in the default-mode, fronto-parietal, cingulo-opercular, and occipital subnetworks. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides preliminary evidence for a possible long-term effect of childhood trauma on brain functional dynamism. These findings may have potential contributions to psychiatric disorders during adulthood.
BACKGROUND: Both childhood trauma and disruptions in brain functional networks are implicated in the development of psychiatric disorders in early adulthood. However, the relationships between these two factors remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether and how childhood trauma would relate to changes of functional network dynamics in young adults. METHODS: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 53 young healthy adults, whose childhood trauma histories were assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Network switching rate, a measure of stability of dynamic brain networks over time, was calculated at both global and local levels for each participant. Switching rates at both levels were compared between participants with and without childhood trauma, and further correlated with CTQ total score. RESULTS: In the current sample, 19 (35.8%) participants reported a history of childhood trauma. At the global level, participants with childhood trauma showed significantly higher network switching rates than those without trauma (F = 10.021, p = 0.003). A significant positive correlation was found between network switching rates and CTQ scores in the entire sample (r = 0.378, p = 0.007). At the local level, these effects were mainly observed in the default-mode, fronto-parietal, cingulo-opercular, and occipital subnetworks. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides preliminary evidence for a possible long-term effect of childhood trauma on brain functional dynamism. These findings may have potential contributions to psychiatric disorders during adulthood.
Authors: Layla Banihashemi; Christine W Peng; Anusha Rangarajan; Helmet T Karim; Meredith L Wallace; Brandon M Sibbach; Jaspreet Singh; Mark M Stinley; Anne Germain; Howard J Aizenstein Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-03-03