CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 234Child Abuse and TraumaStress Responses and CortisolChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Reduced nucleus accumbens reactivity and adolescent depression following early-life stress

Open access
Goff, B., Gee, D.G., Telzer, E.H., Humphreys, K.L., Gabard-Durnam, L., Flannery, J., Tottenham, N.·2013·Neuroscience
DOI 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.12.010PMC PMC3646076
Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Depression is a common outcome for those having experienced early-life stress (ELS). For those individuals, depression typically increases during adolescence and appears to endure into adulthood, suggesting alterations in the development of brain systems involved in depression. Developmentally, the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a limbic structure associated with reward learning and motivation, typically undergoes dramatic functional change during adolescence; therefore, age-related changes in NAcc function may underlie increases in depression in adolescence following ELS. The current study examined the effects of ELS in 38 previously institutionalized children and adolescents in comparison to a group of 31 youths without a history of ELS. Consistent with previous research, the findings showed that depression was higher in adolescents than children with a history of ELS. Additionally, functional magnetic resonance imaging results showed atypical NAcc development, where the ELS group did not show a typical increase in NAcc reactivity during adolescence. Consequently, the ELS group showed NAcc hypoactivation during adolescence, and lower NAcc reactivity was correlated with higher depression scores. The results have important implications for understanding how ELS may influence increases in depression via neural development during the transition to adolescence and highlight the importance of identifying at-risk individuals in childhood, a potential critical period for depression-targeted intervention.

Verified 2026-10-05 · 3 references not checked yet

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.12.010

Cites

72 of 75 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

14 tests recomputed · 0 with the reported and recomputed p on opposite sides of .05

Claims the paper makes

0 of 56 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    In the early-life stress group only, positive affect scores were significantly lower in adolescence than in childhood.

    “for the ELS group only, positive affect scores were significantly lower in adolescence than in childhood t(35)=2.13, p<.05”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    There was a significant ELS group by age group interaction for RCADS-P depression scores.

    “There was a two-way interaction of ELSGroup×AgeGroup (F(1,63)=5.46, p<.025, partial η2=.08)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The early-life stress group had significantly higher RCADS-P MDD T-scores than the comparison group.

    “the average RCADS-P MDD T-score was significantly higher for the ELS group (mean(SD);range=45.74(9.09);31.0-70.6) than for the comparison group (mean(SD); range=35.28(3.96); 30.4-46.5)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Among the early-life stress group, depression scores differed significantly between age groups.

    “post hoc tests showed that for the ELS group only, depression scores were significantly different between age groups (F(1,36)=6.25, p<.025)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The early-life stress group reported significantly higher negative affect than the comparison group.

    “the ELS group reported significantly higher levels of negative affect than the comparison group”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 19
  • May combine two claims. 28

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    D-prime was higher in adolescents than in children.

    “d-prime was higher in adolescents (mean(SD)=2.7(1.0)) than children (mean(SD)=1.9(1.1))”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In adolescents, d-prime was higher for the neutral/happy face condition than for the neutral/fear condition, while children showed no difference between conditions.

    “d-prime was higher for the neutral/happy face condition (mean(SD)=2.95(.93)) than d-prime for the neutral/fear condition (mean(SD)=2.43(1.29)) in adolescents (t(27)=2.69, p<.015), but there was no difference between the two conditions in children, t(39)=.66, ns”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    There was no ELS group by age group interaction for RCADS-P anxiety scores, and anxiety scores remained constant across the two age groups.

    “The ELSGroup×AgeGroup interaction that was observed in RCADS depression scores was not observed in RCADS anxiety scores (F(1,67)=2.47, ps>.05, partial η2=.04), showing that unlike the age-related differences in depression scores, anxiety scores remained constant over the two age groups”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Reported positive affect was high in all children and significantly lower in adolescents.

    “reported positive affect was high in all children and was significantly lower for adolescents”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    There were no main effects or interactions for reaction time.

    “There were no main effects or interactions for reaction time (ps>.05).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Eight participants in the early-life stress group scored in the clinical range on the CBCL or RCADS-P, while no comparison participants did.

    “none of the comparison participants scored within clinical range, and eight of the participants form the ELS group exhibited mental health characteristics within the clinical range”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Among the early-life stress groups, only depression scores showed age-related change, while anxiety was elevated in both age groups.

    “Although ELS was associated with depression and anxiety, only depression scores showed age-related change, whereas anxiety was elevated in both age groups.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Early-life stress was associated with both depression and anxiety.

    “Although ELS was associated with depression and anxiety, only depression scores showed age-related change, whereas anxiety was elevated in both age groups.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    There was no observable effect of early-life stress on nucleus accumbens reactivity during childhood, and both groups of children had relatively low nucleus accumbens reactivity.

    “That is, there was no observable effect of ELS on NAcc reactivity during childhood, as both groups of children demonstrated relatively low levels of NAcc reactivity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The effect of early-life stress on nucleus accumbens reactivity was observed in the adolescent group, which also had the highest depression symptoms.

    “In support of this hypothesis, the effect of ELS on NAcc reactivity in the current study was observed in the adolescent group, the same group with highest depression symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The present study did not find significant relationships between pubertal status and depression or nucleus accumbens activity.

    “Lastly, while the present study did not find significant relationships between pubertal status and depression or NAcc activity, our sample was rather underpowered for these analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In soldiers preparing for combat, nucleus accumbens activity declined after stress exposure and was associated with clinical depression symptoms.

    “in a prospective examination of soldiers heading to combat, NAcc activity declined following stress exposure and was associated with clinical symptoms of depression”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Admon et al., in press

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Early-life stress effects have been observed after abuse and after maternal deprivation.

    “Early-life stress effects have been found following both abuse (Anda et al., 2006; Maniglio, 2009; Raineki, et al., 2012) and maternal deprivation (Johnson, 2002; Loman and Gunnar, 2010)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Anda et al., 2006 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Maniglio, 2009 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Raineki, et al., 2012 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The nucleus accumbens is a dopamine receptor-rich limbic structure linked to reward learning and motivation in response to pleasurable stimuli, such as happy faces for humans.

    “The NAcc is a dopamine receptor-rich limbic structure associated with reward learning and motivation in response to pleasurable stimuli (Ikemoto and Panksepp, 1999) such as the visual presentation of happy faces for humans (Monk et al., 2008).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Ikemoto and Panksepp, 1999

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Monk et al., 2008 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    People with a history of early-life maltreatment show dampened behavioral reward responsiveness and reduced activation in striatal structures.

    “Dillon et al., (2009) found that participants with a history of early-life maltreatment displayed dampened behavioral responsiveness to reward and reduced activation in striatal structures.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Dillon et al., (2009) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The Petersen Physical Development Scale has good reliability and validity for classifying pubertal status.

    “has been shown to have good reliability and validity”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Petersen et al., 1998

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Animal models show that early adverse experiences reduce responsiveness to reward and affect dopaminergic pathways, including the nucleus accumbens.

    “electrophysiological and lesion studies have demonstrated a sensitivity of dopaminergic pathways (Powell et al., 2003; Hall et al., 1998; Jones et al., 1992), including the NAcc (Fulford and Marsden, 1998; Jones et al., 1992), and reduced responsiveness to reward (Lapiz et al., 2000) to early adverse experiences”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Powell et al., 2003 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Hall et al., 1998 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Jones et al., 1992 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescents who experienced early maternal deprivation show ventral striatum hyporesponsivity to reward and no modulation of ventral striatum activity by reward value.

    “As adolescents, these individuals showed hyporesponsivity in the ventral striatum in response to reward, and unlike in typical adolescents, ventral striatum activity was not modulated by reward value.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mehta et al., (2009) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The abbreviated Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children had acceptable internal consistency in this sample.

    “We also obtained acceptable alpha coefficients for the abbreviated version of the questionnaire (PA alpha=.77, NA alpha=.75).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Early-life stress affects ventral striatum development, producing hyporeactivity that harms reward and motivational processing.

    “Collectively, these findings suggest that ELS impacts the development of the ventral striatum, resulting in hyporeactivity, which adversely impacts reward and motivational processing.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Low ventral striatum activity predicts an association between recent stressful events and low positive affect in emergent adults.

    “low ventral striatum activity predicts an association between recent stressful events and low positive affect in a group of emergent adults”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Nikolova et al. (2012) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales - Parent form is valid and reliable for assessing childhood anxiety and depression in developing samples.

    “which has been shown to be valid and reliable in developing samples”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Chorpita et al., 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Adolescents with a history of early-life stress had the combination of low positive affect and high negative affect.

    “adolescents with a history of ELS had the unique combination of low positive affect and high negative affect, based on visual inspection of the statistical main effects”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Functional imaging data were analyzed after excluding volumes with motion greater than 2.5 mm, and all participants had fewer than 15% of TRs censored.

    “All analyzed data were free of motion greater than 2.5 mm in any direction. TRs with motion greater than 2.5 mm in any direction were excluded (via censoring), and all participants had fewer than 15% of total TRs censored”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Anxiety and depression have different developmental patterns, with depression being uncommon in childhood and appearing in early adolescence.

    “These differential developmental patterns for anxiety and depression have been characterized previously (Angold and Rutter, 1992; Cole et al., 1998), with depression being infrequent in childhood and emerging in early adolescence.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Angold and Rutter, 1992 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Cole et al., 1998 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Study design and conductnone given

    fMRI does not have enough resolution to identify the nucleus accumbens with confidence.

    “Although fMRI does not have enough resolution to identify the NAcc with confidence”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Depression is most pronounced among early adolescents and increases sharply after age 10.

    “showing that depression is most pronounced among early adolescents (Brooks-Gunn and Petersen, 1991; Petersen et al., 1993), showing a sharp increase after age 10 (Kessler and Magee, 1993; Angold and Rutter, 1992)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Brooks-Gunn and Petersen, 1991

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Petersen et al., 1993 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Kessler and Magee, 1993

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Depression typically emerges after childhood because group differences in nucleus accumbens activity emerge after childhood, with the early-life stress group failing to show the developmentally typical rise in nucleus accumbens reactivity seen in the comparison group.

    “Moreover, the data suggest that depression typically emerges after childhood because it is after this point that group differences emerge in NAcc activity, with the ELS group failing to show the developmentally-typical rise in NAcc reactivity shown by the comparison group.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In institutional care, health care, nutrition, and safety needs are often met, but necessary maternal input is lacking.

    “Several research groups have observed that in institutional care, health care, nutrition, and safety needs are often met; however, necessary maternal input is lacking (Groark and McCall, 2011; Groark et al., 2011; Smyke et al., 2007; The St. Petersburg-USA Orphanage Research Team, 2008; Tirella et al., 2008; Vorria et al., 2003; Zych, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Groark and McCall, 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Groark et al., 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Smyke et al., 2007 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The superior parietal lobule and parahippocampal gyrus have shown depression-related phenotypes in previous studies.

    “This analysis also showed associations between depression scores and superior parietal lobule and parahippocampal gyrus activity, two regions that have shown depression related phenotypes in previous studies (Fallucca et al., 2011; Milne et al., 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Fallucca et al., 2011 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Milne et al., 2012 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Institutional care is sparse, unstable, and regimented, and is a naturally occurring example of early-life stress in humans.

    “Institutional care, which is sparse, unstable, and regimented (Smyke et al., 2007), is unfortunately a naturally occurring example of early-life stress in humans.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Smyke et al., 2007 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The design did not use a reward learning paradigm, which might be better suited for examining the nucleus accumbens.

    “Thus, a limitation of our design is that we did not employ a reward learning paradigm, which might be better suited for examination of the NAcc.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Studying this population provides knowledge of a discrete period of deprivation.

    “However, an experimental benefit to studying this population is knowledge of a discrete period of deprivation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In healthy youths and those at risk for depression, emotional faces such as happy faces have been effective in recruiting nucleus accumbens activity and in separating diagnostic groups.

    “However, in both healthy youths (Somerville et al., 2011) and those at risk for depression (Monk et al., 2008), emotional faces like happy have been effective in recruiting NAcc activity and effective in separating out diagnostic groups.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Somerville et al., 2011 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Monk et al., 2008 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Emotional health is at significant risk in previously institutionalized children.

    “Maternal deprivation is a potent stressor for the human infant (as reviewed in Tottenham, 2012), and not surprisingly, emotional health is at significant risk in previously institutionalized children (reviewed in Gunnar et al., 2000).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gunnar et al., 2000 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Low ventral striatum reactivity in response to happy faces has been associated with clinical depression.

    “Low ventral striatum reactivity in response to happy faces has been associated with clinical depression (Epstein et al., 2006).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Epstein et al., 2006 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Randomized controlled intervention work suggests that institutionalization itself may be the most significant factor in children's developmental histories.

    “However, randomized control intervention work suggests that institutionalization itself may be the most significant factor in children's developmental histories (Zeanah et al., 2009).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Zeanah et al., 2009 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study did not have access to individual prenatal or developmental histories for previously institutionalized youths.

    “First, due to the nature of international adoption, we do not have access to individual prenatal/developmental histories for previously-institutionalized youths.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
38 of 38

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The anatomically defined region used in the analyses corresponds to the nucleus accumbens.

    “Although fMRI does not have enough resolution to identify the NAcc with confidence, our analyses focused on an anatomically defined region consistent with the location of the NAcc. For brevity's sake, we refer to this region as the NAcc throughout the manuscript.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Institutional care in orphanages abroad constitutes early-life stress.

    “We examined children and adolescents with and without a history of ELS (institutional care in orphanages abroad)”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Children reared in institutions do not alter behavioral responses to stimuli based on reward value, whereas typically developing children are faster and more accurate for rewarded versus non-rewarded stimuli.

    “Children reared in institutions do not alter behavioral responses to stimuli as a function of reward-value, whereas typically-developing children are faster and more accurate in responding to rewarded vs. non-rewarded stimuli.(99, 100)”

    From Neglect as a violation of species-expectant experience: neurodevelopmental consequences (2017) · cites this paper as [100]

  • Children exposed to institutional deprivation were less likely to learn a pattern of numbers in a serial reaction time task, with slower reaction time and lower accuracy on patterned versus non-patterned trials.

    “Children exposed to institutional deprivation were less likely to learn a pattern of numbers embedded in a serial reaction time task, as indicated by slower reaction time and lower accuracy than comparison children on patterned relative to non-patterned trials.(100)”

    From Neglect as a violation of species-expectant experience: neurodevelopmental consequences (2017) · cites this paper as [100]

  • Intervention effects have been found for IQ, language development, reward learning, EEG neural function, and white matter volume and integrity.

    “intervention effects have been found for IQ, language development, reward learning, neural function assessed with EEG, and white matter volume and integrity;(93, 100, 114, 129, 133, 135, 136)”

    From Neglect as a violation of species-expectant experience: neurodevelopmental consequences (2017) · cites this paper as [100]

  • Findings on positive emotional stimuli diverge: institutionalized children show lower ventral striatal response to positive faces, whereas abused adolescents show greater reactivity to positive social cues.

    “While institutionally reared children had decreased ventral striatal response to positive emotional faces (Goff et al., 2013), adolescents with a history of physical and sexual abuse demonstrated increased reactivity to positively valenced social stimuli (Dennison et al., 2016), suggesting a potential difference in the effects of neglect vs abuse.”

    From The effects of early life stress on reward processing (2018) · cites this paper as Goff et al., 2013

  • In both groups, lower ventral striatum activation was tied to more depressive symptoms.

    “Despite this difference, in both groups decreased activation of the ventral striatum correlated with increased depressive symptoms.”

    From The effects of early life stress on reward processing (2018) · cites this paper as Goff et al., 2013

Statistics that don’t add up

Each reported p-value recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom.

  • p-value fits an unstated one-tailed test: F(1,64)=7.66, p < .007

    Minor

    The paper reports p < .007 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .007. The reported value is what a one-tailed test gives, but the paper does not say near this result that a one-tailed test was used.

    Reported p < .007 · recomputed p = .007

  • Inconsistent p-value: t(29)=2.33, p < .01

    Minor

    The paper reports p < .01 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .027 (two-tailed). The check cannot tell whether the statistic or the p-value is the misprint.

    Reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .027

2 of 2

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Doesn’t add upF(1, 64) = 7.66reported p < .007 · recomputed p = .007

    “F(1,64)=7.66, p < .007”

  • Doesn’t add upt(29) = 2.33reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .027

    “t(29)=2.33, p < .01”

  • ConsistentF(1, 63) = 38.66reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,63)=38.66, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 63) = 5.46reported p < .025 · recomputed p = .023

    “F(1,63)=5.46, p < .025”

  • ConsistentF(1, 36) = 6.25reported p < .025 · recomputed p = .017

    “F(1,36)=6.25, p < .025”

  • ConsistentF(1, 64) = 21.19reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,64)=21.19, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 59) = 6.77reported p < .015 · recomputed p = .012

    “F(1,59) =6.77, p < .015”

  • Consistentt(35) = 2.13reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .040

    “t(35)=2.13, p < .05”

  • ConsistentF(1, 59) = 5.96reported p < .025 · recomputed p = .018

    “F(1,59)=5.96, p < .025”

  • ConsistentF(1, 64) = 10.89reported p < .002 · recomputed p = .002

    “F(1,64)=10.89, p < .002”

  • Consistentt(27) = 2.69reported p < .015 · recomputed p = .012

    “t(27)=2.69, p < .015”

  • Consistentt(39) = 0.66reported n.s. · recomputed p = .513

    “t(39)=.66, ns.”

  • ConsistentF(1, 65) = 7.03reported p = .01 · recomputed p = .010

    “F(1,65)=7.03, p = .01”

  • Consistentt(27) = 2.26reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .032

    “t(27)=2.26, p < .05”

14 of 14

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Child task comparison implies more children than enrolled

    Minor

    A paired comparison with 39 degrees of freedom implies 40 children, but the final sample contained only 39 children. Excluding one child's responses could not increase that count.

  • Anxiety ANOVA reports incompatible degrees of freedom

    Minor

    The reported main effect and interaction are from the same 2×2 anxiety analysis, but their denominator degrees of freedom are 64 and 67. They should have the same denominator degrees of freedom.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Goff, B., Gee, D. G., Telzer, E. H., Humphreys, K. L., Gabard-Durnam, L., Flannery, J., & Tottenham, N.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Tottenham, N.
ORCID
Venue
Neuroscience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-09
Volume
249
Pages
129-138
ISSN
0306-4522 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.12.010
PMC
PMC3646076
OpenAlex
W2008443876
Cited by
234
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 5
FWCI
9.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH091864)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
early life stress, adolescent depression, nucleus accumbens, institutionalized children, neural development, adolescence, reward processing, motivation, limbic system
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Age Factors, Child, Child, Preschool, Depression, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nucleus Accumbens, Photic Stimulation, Psychomotor Performance, Stress, Psychological

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-05.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-05.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review