Cited by 108Hemispheric Asymmetry in NeuroscienceChild Welfare and AdoptionChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Adverse Rearing Environments and Neural Development in Children: The Development of Frontal Electroencephalogram Asymmetry

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McLaughlin, Katie A., Fox, Nathan A., Zeanah, Charles H., Nelson, Charles A.·2011·Biological Psychiatry

Abstract

Background Children raised in institutional settings experience marked deprivation in social and environmental stimulation. This deprivation may disrupt brain development in ways that increase risk for psychopathology. Differential hemispheric activation of the frontal cortex is an established biological substrate of affective style that is associated with internalizing psychopathology. Previous research has never characterized the development of frontal electroencephalogram asymmetry in children or evaluated whether adverse rearing environments alter developmental trajectories. Methods A sample of 136 children (mean age = 23 months) residing in institutions in Bucharest, Romania, and a sample of community control subjects (n = 72) participated. Half of institutionalized children were randomized to a foster care intervention. Electroencephalogram data were acquired at study entry and at ages 30, 42, and 96 months. A structured diagnostic interview of psychiatric disorders was completed at 54 months. Results Children exhibited increases in right relative to left hemisphere frontal activation between the second and fourth years of life, followed by an increase in left relative to right hemisphere activation. Children reared in institutions experienced a prolonged period of increased right hemisphere activation and a blunted rebound in left frontal activation. Foster care placement was associated with improved developmental trajectories but only among children placed before 24 months. The development trajectory of frontal electroencephalogram asymmetry in early childhood predicted internalizing symptoms at 54 months. Conclusions Exposure to adverse rearing environments can alter brain development, culminating in heightened risk for psychopathology. Interventions delivered early in life have the greatest potential to mitigate the long-term effects of these environments.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.08.006

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  • Children randomly assigned to the BEIP foster care intervention showed rapid improvements relative to children remaining in orphanage care in cognitive development, attachment behaviors, emotional reactivity, psychiatric symptoms, and EEG-measured neural activity.

    “Studies have shown that relative to children who remain in orphanage care, those randomly assigned to the foster care intervention show rapid improvements in a number of outcome measures, including cognitive development (Nelson, et al., 2007), attachment behaviors, emotional reactivity, psychiatric symptomatology (Bos, et al., 2011), and neural activity as measured by electroencephalogram (EEG)(Mc”

    From Risk and developmental heterogeneity in previously institutionalized children (2012) · cites this paper as McLaughlin, Fox, Zeanah, & Nelson, 2011

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  1. [62]Slopen N McLaughlin KA Fox NA Zeanah CH Nelson CA Alterations in neural processing of facial emotions and psychopathology in children exposed to institutional rearing under review

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Authors
McLaughlin, K. A., Fox, N. A., Zeanah, C. H., & Nelson, C. A.
Affiliations
  • Boston Children's Hospital (US)
  • University of Maryland, College Park (US)
  • Tulane University (US)
Corresponding author
McLaughlin, Katie A.
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-12
Volume
70
Issue
11
Pages
1008-1015
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1983846339
Cited by
108
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 5
FWCI
3.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Early Experience and Brain Development
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH091363, MH092526)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
institutionalized children, frontal EEG asymmetry, hemispheric lateralization, brain development, internalizing problems, early childhood, affective style, developmental trajectories
MeSH terms
Developmental Disabilities, Child, Institutionalized, Child, Preschool, Electroencephalography, Environment, Female, Foster Home Care, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Infant, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Time Factors, Case-Control Studies

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