Cited by 84Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentChild Abuse and Trauma

Early life stress is associated with default system integrity and emotionality during infancy

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Graham, Alice M., Pfeifer, Jennifer H., Fisher, Philip A., Carpenter, Samuel, Fair, Damien A.·2015·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Abstract

Background: Extensive animal research has demonstrated the vulnerability of the brain to early life stress ( ELS ) with consequences for emotional development and mental health. However, the influence of moderate and common forms of stress on early human brain development is less well‐understood and precisely characterized. To date, most work has focused on severe forms of stress, and/or on brain functioning years after stress exposure. Methods: In this report we focused on conflict between parents (interparental conflict), a common and relatively moderate form of ELS that is highly relevant for children's mental health outcomes. We used resting state functional connectivity MRI to examine the coordinated functioning of the infant brain ( N = 23; 6–12‐months‐of‐age) in the context of interparental conflict. We focused on the default mode network ( DMN ) due to its well‐characterized developmental trajectory and implications for mental health. We further examined DMN strength as a mediator between conflict and infants’ negative emotionality. Results: Higher interparental conflict since birth was associated with infants showing stronger connectivity between two core DMN regions, the posterior cingulate cortex ( PCC ) and the anterior medial prefrontal cortex ( aMPFC ). PCC to amygdala connectivity was also increased. Stronger PCC ‐ aMPFC connectivity mediated between higher conflict and higher negative infant emotionality. Conclusions: The developing DMN may be an important marker for effects of ELS with relevance for emotional development and subsequent mental health. Increasing understanding of the associations between common forms of family stress and emerging functional brain networks has potential to inform intervention efforts to improve mental health outcomes.

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Crossref · 10.1111/jcpp.12409

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  • In 6- to 12-month-olds, interparental conflict is associated with stronger resting-state connectivity among hubs of the default network, posterior cingulate cortex, and anterior medial prefrontal cortex, and between posterior cingulate cortex and amygdala.

    “in 6- to 12-month-olds, interparental conflict is associated with stronger resting-state connectivity among hubs of the default network, posterior cingulate cortex and anterior medical prefrontal cortex, as well as between the posterior cingulate cortex and the amygdala179.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Straus MA Hamby SL Boney-McCoy S Sugarman DB The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) Journal of Family Issues 1996 17 3 283 316
  2. Talairach P Tournoux J Co-planar Stereotaxic Altas of the Human Brain 1988 Stuttgart, Germany Georg Thieme Verlag

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Authors
Graham, A. M., Pfeifer, J. H., Fisher, P. A., Carpenter, S., & Fair, D. A.
Affiliations
  • Oregon Health & Science University (US)
  • University of Oregon (US)
Corresponding author
Graham, Alice M.
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2015-03-23
Volume
56
Issue
11
Pages
1212-1222
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
OpenAlex
W1971552469
Cited by
84
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 2
FWCI
5.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Center for Drug Abuse Prevention in the Child Welfare System (1-P30-DA023920)
  • Early Experience, Stress, and Neurobehavioral Development Center (1-P50-MH078105, F31 MH 094000, F32 MH 105283, R00 MH091238, R01 MH096773)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
early life stress, parental conflict, default mode network, infant brain development, resting-state functional connectivity, negative affectivity, posterior cingulate cortex, anterior medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, emotional development, family stress, mental health
MeSH terms
Adult, Amygdala, Emotions, Female, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Infant, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Net, Stress, Psychological, Prefrontal Cortex, Family Conflict

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