Exposure to violence and low family income are associated with heightened amygdala responsiveness to threat among adolescents.

ABSTRACT: The processing of emotional facial expressions is important for social functioning and is influenced by environmental factors, including early environmental experiences. Low socio-economic status (SES) is associated with greater exposure to uncontrollable stressors, including violence, as well as deprivation, defined as a lack or decreased complexity of expected environmental input. The current study examined amygdala and fusiform gyrus response to facial expressions in 207 early adolescents (mean age = 13.93 years, 63.3% female). Participants viewed faces displaying varying intensities of angry and happy faces during functional MRI. SES was assessed using the income-to-needs ratio (INR) and a measure of subjective social status. Cumulative exposure to violence was also assessed. When cons

SUBMITTER: White SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6974896 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature