Childhood Trauma Associated with Enhanced High Frequency Band Powers and Induced Subjective Inattention of Adults

Abstract

Childhood trauma can lead to various psychological and cognitive symptoms. It has been demonstrated that high frequency electroencephalogram (EEG) powers could be closely correlated with inattention. In this study, we explored the relationship between high frequency EEG powers, inattention, symptoms of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and childhood traumatic experiences. A total of 157 healthy Korean adult volunteers were included and divided into two groups using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) score. The subjective inattention scores, ADHD scale, and anxiety and depression symptom were evaluated. EEG was recorded and quantitative band powers were analyzed. The results were as follows: (1) the high CTQ group showed significantly increased delta, beta1, beta2, beta3 and gamma, and significantly decreased low alpha power compared to the low CTQ group; (2) the high CTQ group had higher inattention score compared to the low CTQ group; (3) the high CTQ group had higher adult ADHD scores; (4) CTQ scores showed significant positive correlations with inattention scores, and adult ADHD scores; (5) unexpectedly, the inattention scores showed significant positive correlations with beta powers and a negative correlation with low alpha power; and (6) the moderated mediation model was confirmed: the depression fully mediated the path from state anxiety to inattention, and the CTQ significantly moderated the pathway between anxiety and depression. Our results show the possibility that childhood adversity may cause subjective inattention and adult ADHD symptoms. Depressive symptoms fully mediated the path from anxiety to inattention, especially in those who report severe childhood traumatic experiences.

An Integrated Model of Emotional Problems, Beta Power of Electroencephalography, and Low Frequency of Heart Rate Variability after Childhood Trauma in a Non-Clinical Sample: A Path Analysis Study

“…The lability of mood was found to be induced by childhood trauma ( 2 , 5 , 55 ). In addition to childhood trauma, EEG beta2 activity is known to be correlated with negative moods ( 12 , 63 , 64 ). Increased beta1 and beta2 activity was found in people with childhood maltreatment than in control group in both non-rapid eye movement sleep and in rapid eye movement sleep ( 65 ), and higher beta coherence was found in people with childhood trauma than those with adulthood traumas over right temporal–parietal areas, and those with no trauma history over the right temporal region ( 66 ).…”

“…Research using electroencephalography (EEG) has found that the score of childhood trauma was significantly correlated with left frontal alpha power and with left parietal theta, alpha, and beta when EEG was tested at resting eyes closed state ( 11 ). A recent study also found that a group with high childhood trauma score showed significantly increased delta, beta and gamma power, and significantly decreased low alpha power in addition to significantly decreased anxiety and depression levels compared to a group with low childhood trauma scores ( 12 ).…”

“…As stated above, childhood trauma is known to be related to not only emotional problems but also qEEG indices ( 11 , 12 ) and HRV indices ( 24 ) in adulthood. In addition, these factors could be related to one another simultaneously ( 39 , 40 ).…”

“…In addition, these factors could be related to one another simultaneously ( 39 , 40 ). However, the exact directions between these factors have not been reported yet, and some pathway models involved with childhood trauma did not fully cover these various factors ( 12 ). In particular, some argue that the heart and brain change in response to an emotional stimulus to produce the experience of emotions ( 34 , 35 ), while others claim that emotions change the signals that brain sends to the heart ( 41 ).…”

Altered cortical functional network during behavioral inhibition in individuals with childhood trauma

“…A recent study by our research group showed increased beta and gamma power in individuals with childhood trauma, which suggests that the increased power of individuals with childhood trauma may reflect cognitive deficits of the brain. Furthermore, it revealed that childhood trauma might be associated with high anxiety states that cause the increase of gamma band power in the brain 58 . In addition, increased resting state EEG beta powers in bereaved family members of accident victims have been observed; this increased beta power was interpreted to reflect a coping strategy for extremely complex and stressful situations.…”