Research

World’s largest childhood trauma study reveals vital brain information

Freya Lucas

Mar 11, 2024

Save

The world’s largest brain study of childhood trauma has offered invaluable insights into childhood trauma, revealing the way that trauma affects development and rewires vital neural pathways.

Led by the University of Essex, the study uncovered a disruption in neural networks involved in self-focus and problem-solving, finding that children and young people under 18 years of age who have experienced abuse will likely struggle with emotions, empathy and understanding their bodies.

Difficulties in school caused by memory, hard mental tasks and decision making may also emerge, the researchers found.

Lead researcher Dr Megan Klabunde’s cutting-edge research used AI to re-examine hundreds of brain scans and identify patterns.

Researchers hope that the research will help hone new treatments for children who have endured mistreatment, which could mean that therapists focus on techniques that rewire these centres and help children and young people rebuild their sense of self.

“Currently, science-based treatments for childhood trauma primarily focus on addressing the fearful thoughts and avoidance of trauma triggers,” she explained.

“This is a very important part of trauma treatment. However, our study has revealed that we are only treating one part of the problem.”

“Even when a child who has experienced trauma is not thinking about their traumatic experiences, their brains are struggling to process their sensations within their bodies.”

“This influences how one thinks and feels about one’s ‘internal world’ and this also influences one’s ability to empathise and form relationships.”

Dr Klabunde hopes the study will be a springboard to find out more about how trauma affects developing minds.

“Our brain findings indicate that childhood trauma treatments appear to be missing an important piece of the puzzle,” she said.

“In addition to preventing avoidance of scary situations and addressing one’s thoughts, trauma therapies in children should also address how trauma’s impacts one's body, sense of self, emotional/empathetic processing, and relationships.”

Access the findings in full here.

Don’t miss a thing

Keeping children safe with one simple lesson

Water safety remains at the forefront of national concern, as drowning continues to be the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 0-4.

Ecological identity: a new lens on an age-old practice

The journey to embed ecological identity is a personal one, as identity sits close to one’s heart and is shaped from our own foundational years. For myself, it was founded in warm summer afternoons playing in the rockpools along the beaches in Sydney, discovering the names of all the little creatures that lurked there, including the starfish that suctioned to my curious fingertips.

What Can Australia Learn from Ontario’s Child Care Ratios?

As workforce pressures continue to shape early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy discussions in Australia, international comparisons provide useful perspectives. Canada’s approach, particularly in Ontario, offers a case study in how educator-to-child ratios, maximum group sizes and qualification requirements can be legislated as an integrated framework.

Integrated school and early learning hubs linked to stronger transitions and family engagement

A new evaluation has found that integrating early learning, health and family support services within schools significantly improves access for families and strengthens outcomes for children, adding momentum to calls for expansion of integrated hubs across Victoria.

AERO reports growing uptake of evidence-based practice across schools and ECEC

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) has reported increasing adoption of its evidence-based guidance across Australian schools and early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, signalling a strengthening national focus on research-informed practice.