Developmental abnormalities of the brain exposed to childhood maltreatment detected by diffusion tensor imaging

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to investigate brain developmental alterations in individuals exposed to childhood maltreatment (CM) with dissociative experiences and motor coordination symptoms using diffusion tensor imaging on a 3Tesla (3T) magnetic resonance (MR) system.

Methods: Five individuals exposed to CM who manifest behavioral and developmental problems with dissociative experiences and motor coordination symptoms (age range: 14–18 years; all female), as well as seven age- and gender-matched normal control individuals, participated in the study using a 3T MR system. Diffusion characteristics, as indexed by fractional anisotropy (FA), were assessed for cerebral white matter structures. A preliminary whole brain analysis was performed complementary to an anatomically guided region of interest (ROI) analysis.

Results: In individuals exposed to CM, scattered decreases in FA were detected in multiple brain regions over the frontoparietal and temporal areas in the whole brain map. ROI analysis subsequently identified significant decreases in FA (p < 0.05) in the right parietal white matter area as well as in the right prefrontal, bilateral premotor, bilateral orbitofrontal, and temporal white matter areas in CM-exposed individuals compared to that in controls.

Conclusion: The observed altered diffusion characteristics indicate attendant developmental abnormalities within the white matter structures, which are associated with the observed clinical and behavioral patterns including dissociative experiences and coordination symptoms in individuals exposed to CM. The study provides objective evidence regarding the effects of CM on brain microstructure.

KEYWORDS:

• MR imaging
• maturation
• dissociative experience
• fractional anisotropy
• connectivity

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Masutomo Miyao, MD, PhD, Mitsuko Nakano MD, PhD, and Kei-ichi Funahashi MD, MSc, for their communication with each of the CM exposed individuals at NCCHD. The study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (Japan), and the Collaborative Research Project (2017-2816) of the Brain Research Institute, Niigata University. Part of these results was presented at the 43^rd annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, 2013.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology(Japan), the Collaborative Research Project of the Brain Research Institute, Niigata University [2017-2816].

Notes on contributors

Kenichi Yamada

Kenichi Yamada, MD, PhD, is an associate professor. His research interests include pediatric neurology and clinical application of MRI technology to elucidate the pathophysiology of the brain in pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders, developmental medicine, and behavioral pediatrics.

Yuji Suzuki

Yuji Suzuki, MD, PhD, is an associate professor. His research interests include pediatric neurology and development of neuroimaging methods of MRI and PET for elucidating the mechanism of normal brain development and the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Makiko Okuyama

Makiko Okuyama, MD, PhD, is the head of department of psychosocial medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. She has dedicated efforts to protecting children from child abuse and neglect with a special interest in building a comprehensive approach for protection and prevention of childhood maltreatment in Japan.

Masaki Watanabe

Masaki Watanabe, PhD, is an assistant professor. His main professional focus lies mainly in high- and ultrahigh field MRI technology. His research interests include development of neuroimaging methods and advanced electromagnetic devices for clinical application.

Tsutomu Nakada

Tsutomu Nakada, MD, PhD, is a professor. He has developed ultra-high field MRI and PET technology for elucidating human brain work and brain development. His special research interests include neurology, brain science, and development of neuroimaging methods.