How childhood stress impacts brain’s growth
New Delhi, June 17 (ANI): A study finds that childhood stress can cause faster maturation of brain during adolescence. In contrast, researchers of Radboud University concluded that stress experienced later in life leads to slower maturation of the adolescent brain. Researchers investigated 2 types of stressors - negative life events & negative influences from the social environment-in two life stages of their subjects: early childhood (0-5 years) and adolescence (14-17 years). Prefrontal cortex, amygdala & hippocampus plays important role in functioning in social & emotional situations, are known to be sensitive to stress. Stress due to negative experiences during childhood, such as illness or divorce, appears to be related to faster maturation of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala in adolescence. Stress resulting from a negative social environment during adolescence, such as low peer esteem at school, is connected to slower maturation of the brain area hippocampus. The study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
