Differential alterations in topology property of resting state networks associated with mental health and childhood trauma

Abstract

Background Childhood trauma experiences leads to greater psychopathological vulnerability. We identified potential brain networks that are susceptible to childhood trauma, and to investigate these changes mediate childhood adversity and mental health. Methods In total 80 youth aged 18–30 years participants, subjects with and without childhood trauma underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Independent component analysis (ICA) and graph theory based on resting-state functional networks were compared between the two groups. We established a correlation analysis between changes in topological properties and neglect/abuse, and explored the mediating effect on childhood trauma and mental health. In addition, sex as a moderator of relationships between neglect and change in the global efficiency within-network connectivity was confirmed. Results Our findings suggest that childhood trauma is associated with altered global efficiency of salience network (SAN) and default mode network (DMN). Compared with male, neglect was more likely to change global efficiency of the SAN in female. There were significant roles of changes in global efficiency of SAN/DMN as mediators between neglect and novelty-seeking of three-dimensional personality (TPQ-NS). Conclusions These findings highlight childhood trauma experiences altered resting-state functional networks in healthy youth. Such abnormality of brain circuitry is relevant to DMN and SAN especially.