Effects of institutional rearing and foster care intervention on error monitoring and externalizing behaviors in adolescence

Previous work consistently finds differences in ERN amplitude between children and adolescents exposed to early institutional care and those who have never been institutionalized.

“Previous work consistently finds differences in ERN amplitude between children and adolescents exposed to early institutional care and those who have never been institutionalized (Debnath et al., 2023; Loman et al., 2013; McDermott et al., 2013; TrollerRenfree et al., 2016).”

Foster care intervention in the BEIP is associated with EEG normalization of theta and alpha power and event-related potential responses to social and cognitive stimuli.

“↑ EEG normalization of theta and alpha power, event-related potential responses to social and cognitive stimuli (Debnath et al., 2020(Debnath et al., , 2023;;McDermott et al., 2013;McLaughlin et al., 2011;Moulson et al., 2009;Vanderwert et al., 2016)”

Lower theta power was associated with both greater exposure to stressful life events and elevated symptoms of general and externalizing psychopathology.

“and lower theta power was associated with both greater exposure to stressful life events (Wade et al., 2023) and elevated symptoms of general and externalizing psychopathology (Buzzell et al., 2020; Debnath et al., 2023).”

Across EEG studies spanning early childhood through adolescence, foster care intervention has been shown to promote more normative neural development following early institutionalization.

“Across electroencephalography (EEG) studies spanning early childhood through adolescence, foster care intervention has been shown to promote more normative neural development following early institutionalization (Debnath et al., 2020(Debnath et al., , 2023;;McDermott et al., 2013;McLaughlin et al., 2011;Moulson et al., 2009;Vanderwert et al., 2016).”

Across multiple ages and even in the absence of intervention group differences, ERN amplitude has been associated with psychosocial functioning in the BEIP at age 8, 12, and 16 years.

“Nevertheless, across multiple ages and even in the absence of intervention group differences, ERN amplitude has been associated with psychosocial functioning in the BEIP at age 8, 12, and 16 years (Debnath et al., 2023; McDermott et al., 2013; Troller-Renfree et al., 2016), albeit sometimes in different directions, likely due to differences in analytic approach”

In the BEIP, adolescents in the CAUG had lower mid-frontal theta power compared to those in the FCG at 16 years.

“In the BEIP, adolescents in the CAUG had lower mid-frontal theta power compared to those in the FCG at 16 years (Buzzell et al., 2020; Debnath et al., 2023; Wade et al., 2023)”

By age 16 years, intervention effects were more clearly evident such that the CAUG showed significantly smaller (less negative) ΔERNs than the FCG.

“By age 16 years, intervention effects were more clearly evident such that the CAUG showed significantly smaller (less negative) Δ ERNs than the FCG (Debnath et al., 2023).”

Findings from BEIP and other independent samples have revealed long-term error monitoring differences in previously institutionalized children that persist at least through adolescence.

“Findings both from BEIP and other independent samples have revealed long-term error monitoring differences in previously institutionalized children that persist at least through adolescence (Buzzell et al., 2020; Debnath et al., 2023; Frenkel et al., 2020; Loman et al., 2013; McDermott et al., 2013; Troller-Renfree et al., 2016).”

At the 16-year BEIP follow-up, the care-as-usual group (CAUG) had significantly lower theta power (measured as the difference between error-related and correct-related theta power) than each of the other two groups, which did not differ from each other.

“At the 16-year BEIP follow-up, group differences in theta power were observed, such that CAUG had significantly lower theta power (measured as the difference between error-related and correct-related theta power) than each of the other two groups, which did not differ from each other (Debnath et al., 2023).”