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a Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478, USA
Key Words: adolescence • maltreatment • hippocampus • corpus callosum • translational research • sensitive periods • stress • abuse or neglect
Address for correspondence: Martin H. Teicher, Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street Belmont, MA 02478. Voice: 617-855-2971; fax: 617-855-3712. e-mail: martin_teicher{at}hms.harvard.edu
Recent studies have reported an association between exposure to childhood abuse or neglect and alterations in brain structure or function. One limitation of these studies is that they are correlational and do not provide evidence of a cause–effect relationship. Preclinical studies on the effects of exposure to early life stress can demonstrate causality, and can enrich our understanding of the clinical research if we hypothesize that the consequences of early abuse are predominantly mediated through the induction of stress responses. Exposure to early abuse and early stress has each been associated with the emergence of epileptiform electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities, alterations in corpous callosum area, and reduced volume or synaptic density of the hippocampus. Further, there is evidence that different brain regions have unique periods when they are maximally sensitive to the effects of early stress. To date, preclinical studies have guided clinical investigations and will continue to provide important insight into studies on molecular mechanisms and gene–environment interactions.
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