Vigilance, the Amygdala, and Anxiety in Youths with a History of Institutional Care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early adversity is commonly associated with alterations of amygdala circuitry and increased anxiety. While many theoretical and clinical accounts of early adversity suggest that it increases vigilance to threatening stimuli, the present study tested whether heightened anxiety and amygdala reactivity associated with early adversity enhanced goal-directed attention for threatening stimuli. Showing this association would provide support that these adversity-induced alterations are developmental adaptations of the individual.

Methods

34 children and adolescents who experienced early adversity in the form of previous institutionalization (PI) (26 female, mean age=13.49 years) and a comparison group of 33 children and adolescents who were reared by their biological pare

SUBMITTER: Silvers JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5630141 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature