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. 2015 Feb 15;77(4):314-23.
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.04.020. Epub 2014 May 23.

Behavioral problems after early life stress: contributions of the hippocampus and amygdala

Jamie L Hanson  1 , Brendon M Nacewicz  2 , Matthew J Sutterer  3 , Amelia A Cayo  4 , Stacey M Schaefer  4 , Karen D Rudolph  5 , Elizabeth A Shirtcliff  6 , Seth D Pollak  7 , Richard J Davidson  8
Affiliations

Behavioral problems after early life stress: contributions of the hippocampus and amygdala

Jamie L Hanson et al. Biol Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Early life stress (ELS) can compromise development, with higher amounts of adversity linked to behavioral problems. To understand this linkage, a growing body of research has examined two brain regions involved with socioemotional functioning-amygdala and hippocampus. Yet empirical studies have reported increases, decreases, and no differences within human and nonhuman animal samples exposed to different forms of ELS. This divergence in findings may stem from methodological factors, nonlinear effects of ELS, or both.

Methods: We completed rigorous hand-tracing of the amygdala and hippocampus in three samples of children who experienced different forms of ELS (i.e., physical abuse, early neglect, or low socioeconomic status). Interviews were also conducted with children and their parents or guardians to collect data about cumulative life stress. The same data were also collected in a fourth sample of comparison children who had not experienced any of these forms of ELS.

Results: Smaller amygdala volumes were found for children exposed to these different forms of ELS. Smaller hippocampal volumes were also noted for children who were physically abused or from low socioeconomic status households. Smaller amygdala and hippocampal volumes were also associated with greater cumulative stress exposure and behavioral problems. Hippocampal volumes partially mediated the relationship between ELS and greater behavioral problems.

Conclusions: This study suggests ELS may shape the development of brain areas involved with emotion processing and regulation in similar ways. Differences in the amygdala and hippocampus may be a shared diathesis for later negative outcomes related to ELS.

Keywords: Abuse; Amygdala; Chronic stress; Development; Early life stress; Emotion; Hippocampus; Limbic system; Medial temporal lobe; Neglect; Neural plasticity; Neuroimaging; Poverty; Stress.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Volumetric comparisons for the left amygdala (panel A) and hippocampus (Left hippocampus shown in Panel B; Right hippocampus in Panel C) are shown in this figure. For each graph, standardized residuals controlling for total gray matter, pubertal stage, and sex are shown on the vertical axis, while group is shown on the horizontal axis. In the bottom corner of the figure are example hand-tracings of the amygdala (outlined in red) and hippocampus (outlined in blue).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scatterplots between left amygdala volume and cumulative stress exposure (Panel A) and behavioral problems (Panel B) for participants who had suffered ELS are shown in this figure. Standardized residuals of amygdala volume controlling for total gray matter, pubertal stage, and sex are shown on the vertical axis while cumulative stress exposure (Panel A) or behavioral problems (Panel B) is shown on the horizontal axis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scatterplots between hippocampal volume and cumulative stress exposure (Left hippocampus shown in Panel A; Right hippocampus in Panel B) and behavioral problems (Left hippocampus shown in Panel C; Right hippocampus in Panel D) for participants who had suffered ELS are shown in this figure. Standardized residuals of hippocampal volume controlling for total gray matter, pubertal stage, and sex are shown on the vertical axis while cumulative stress exposure (Panels A and B) or behavioral problems (Panels C and D) is shown on the horizontal axis.
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