Early life stress and psychopathology Flashcards
How does early life stress influence the amygdala
increasing its overall volume
How does early life stress impact physiological processes and behavior?
Early life stress can impair physiological processes and lead to abnormal behavior, influencing how individuals behave in adulthood.
What biological systems are affected by early life stress?
The HPA axis, autonomic nervous system, immune function, and brain structure (including the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex).
What is the relationship between childhood stress exposure and clinical symptoms of anxiety?
Individuals exposed to two or more stressors in childhood were more likely to report clinical symptoms of anxiety.
Why are rodent models used in early life stress research?
Rodents allow researchers to observe direct anatomical and physiological changes, rather than relying on correlational studies.
How was early life stress induced in rodent studies?
Pregnant female rats were removed from their cages and injected with saline as a psychological stressor, while a control group was left undisturbed.
What was observed in the amygdala of rat offspring exposed to prenatal stress?
The offspring had larger amygdala possibly as an adaptive mechanism for future stressful environments.
How did early life stress affect hippocampal development in rodents?
The development of the hippocampus was delayed, leading to impaired memory performance in a maze test on the first day.
What effect does stress during pregnancy have on neuronal development in the prefrontal cortex?
Exposure to stress during pregnancy affect development of neurons in prefrontal cortex
It negatively impacts the development of neurons, affecting decision-making and inhibitory control over the HPA axis.
What were the key findings in children of mothers with maternal depression?
They had higher levels of cortisol in saliva and larger amygdalae compared to control
How does childhood maltreatment relate to trait anxiety?
There is a positive correlation between childhood maltreatment and trait anxiety.
What was observed in the offspring of Holocaust survivors with PTSD?
They had lower cortisol levels, despite expectations of higher cortisol.
Why do individuals with PTSD have lower cortisol levels?
adrenal cortisol is very adaptive - cortisol is neurotoxic - constantly under stress and releasing cortisol- receptors for cortisol - adaptive mechanism is decrease number of receptors which will make less cortisol available in bloodstream- reason why PTSD participants had lower cortisol
How does maternal PTSD affect offspring at a genetic level?
The enzyme responsible for converting cortisol to its inactive form was altered in offspring of mothers exposed to extreme stress (e.g., Holocaust survivors).
How does maternal stress affect fetal development?
Increased glucocorticoid levels during pregnancy can alter the development of key limbic structures (e.g., hippocampus) and neurotransmitter systems (e.g., serotonin), increasing risk for anxiety and depression in offspring.
What are the key effects of early life stress on development?
Early life stress affects physiological and behavioral processes, impacting key brain structures that regulate the stress response.
