Harsh corporal punishment is associated with increased T2 relaxation time in dopamine-rich regions

Abstract

Harsh corporal punishment (HCP) was defined as frequent parental administration of corporal punishment (CP) for discipline, with occasional use of objects such as straps, or paddles. CP is linked to increased risk for depression and substance abuse. We examine whether long-term exposure to HCP acts as sub-traumatic stressor that contributes to brain alterations, particularly in dopaminergic pathways, which may mediate their increased vulnerability to drug and alcohol abuse. Nineteen young adults who experienced early HCP but no other forms of maltreatment and twenty-three comparable controls were studied. T2 relaxation time (T2-RT) measurements were performed with an echo planar imaging TE stepping technique and T2 maps were calculated and analyzed voxel-by-voxel to locate regional T2-RT differences between groups. Previous studies indicated that T2-RT provides an indirect index of resting cerebral blood volume. Region of interest (ROI) analyses were also conducted in caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, thalamus, globus pallidus and cerebellar hemispheres. Voxel-based relaxometry showed that HCP was associated with increased T2-RT in right caudate and putamen. ROI analyses also revealed increased T2-RT in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, substantia nigra, thalamus and accumbens but not globus pallidus or cerebellum. There were significant associations between T2-RT measures in dopamine target regions and use of drugs and alcohol, and memory performance. Alteration in the paramagnetic or hemodynamic properties of dopaminergic cell body and projection regions were observed in subjects with HCP, and these findings may relate to their increased risk for drug and alcohol abuse.

A Preliminary Study of the Infl uence of Age of Onset and Childhood Trauma on Cortical Thickness in Major Depressive Disorder

“…Chronic stress increases the state of alertness [59], which is associated with the thalamus [58]. Consistent with our result, a Positron Emission Tomography study [60] revealed significantly greater regional cerebral glucose metabolism in thalamus in adult monkeys who experienced early life stress compared to controls, and another study [61] showed that young adults who experienced corporal punishment in childhood exhibited increased cerebral blood volume in the thalamus. Greater activation or increased volumes in the thalamus might suggest a general problem with sensory information processing, perhaps indicating hyper-vigilance, which is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of GAD.…”

Childhood Emotional Maltreatment Severity Is Associated with Dorsal Medial Prefrontal Cortex Responsivity to Social Exclusion in Young Adults

“…This approach has been useful in revealing similarities and differences between the neurobiological correlates of exposure to childhood sexual abuse [48,57], parental verbal abuse [11,51], WDV [8] and harsh corporal punishment [12,58]. This strength is also a limitation as many abused individuals, particularly those involved in the mental health system, experienced multiple forms of maltreatment.…”

Corporal punishment of children: discipline or abuse?

“…Corporal punishment negatively affects the internalization of moral values by the child and his relationship with his parents [15]. Physical punishment is linked to a slow regression of cognitive development as well as negative effects on the academic pathway [16–20], noncognitive performance and executive functions [21] as well as alterations in the dopaminergic regions associated with substances and alcohol abuse [22]. In particular, negative experiences in childhood predispose later in life, to multiple sexual partners, sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies, and early initiation of sexual activity [23].…”