March 5, 2012
A recent study out of Harvard University has provided more proof that childhood mistreatment causes damage to key parts of the brain. The study, conducted by Dr. Martin Teicher and colleagues, used MRI technology to show that the the hippocampi were reduced in volume in the brains of those who underwent adverse childhood experiences and childhood mistreatment. Such volume reductions particularly focused on the left side of the brain.
Damage to the hippocampus is associated with a number of psychiatric disorders including depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, schizophrenia, and Dissociative Identity Disorder, among others. The hippocampus also controls memory and other essential brain functions.
Here is the academic citation for the article: Martin H. Teicher, Carl M. Anderson, and Ann Polcari, PNAS Plus: Childhood maltreatment is associated with reduced volume in the hippocampal subfields CA3, dentate gyrus, and subiculum, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 2012 109 (9) E563-E563-E572; published ahead of print February 13, 2012.
A number of studies in recent years have been using modern technologies such as MRI and fMRI to scan brain structure and function and to demonstrate that childhood trauma leads to lasting brain abnormalities. I find it interesting that modern technology is helping in the fight against child abuse and maltreatment.