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Kasparek SW, Rosen ML, Lurie LA, Cikara M, Sambrook K, Cvencek D, Meltzoff AN, McLaughlin KA. Differentiating Between Us & Them: Reduced In-Group Bias as a Novel Mechanism Linking Childhood Violence Exposure with Internalizing Psychopathology. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:961-975. [PMID: 36862283 PMCID: PMC9979122 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01035-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Strong in-group bonds, facilitated by implicit favoritism for in-group members (i.e., in-group bias), promote mental health across development. Yet, we know little about how the development of in-group bias is shaped by early-life experiences. Childhood violence exposure is known to alter social information processing biases. Violence exposure may also influence social categorization processes, including in-group biases, in ways that influence risk for psychopathology. We examined associations of childhood violence exposure with psychopathology and behavioral and neural indices of implicit and explicit bias for novel groups in children followed longitudinally across three time points from age 5 to 10 years old (n = 101 at baseline; n = 58 at wave 3). To instantiate in-group and out-group affiliations, youths underwent a minimal group assignment induction procedure, in which they were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Youth were told that members of their assigned group shared common interests (in-group) and members of the other group did not (out-group). In pre-registered analyses, violence exposure was associated with lower implicit in-group bias, which in turn was associated prospectively with higher internalizing symptoms and mediated the longitudinal association between violence exposure and internalizing symptoms. During an fMRI task examining neural responses while classifying in-group and out-group members, violence-exposed children did not exhibit the negative functional coupling between vmPFC and amygdala to in-group vs. out-group members that was observed in children without violence exposure. Reduced implicit in-group bias may represent a novel mechanism linking violence exposure with the development of internalizing symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maya L Rosen
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA
| | - Lucy A Lurie
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mina Cikara
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kelly Sambrook
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dario Cvencek
- Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew N Meltzoff
- Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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2
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Jin X, Xu B, Lin H, Chen J, Xu R, Jin H. The influence of childhood emotional neglect on emotional face processing in young adults. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 232:103814. [PMID: 36527819 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood emotional neglect (CEN) refers to a failure to meet the basic emotional needs of a child, which can seriously impact interpersonal communication and psychological health in young adults. Emotional face processing is critical in interpersonal communication; however, whether CEN affects this processing in young adults has not been investigated. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the effects of CEN on emotional face processing in young adults. Using the Child Trauma Questionnaire, an online survey was conducted with 5010 students from four universities in Tianjin, China. After online interviews and diagnosis by professional doctors, we obtained 20 participants with CEN (CEN group) and 20 without CEN (control group). None of the participants had any mental diseases. A 2 × 4 mixed design was used to investigate the differences in accuracy and response time when identifying the valence of the emotional faces. Compared to the control group, the CEN group identified the valence of all emotional faces more slowly, but there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of accuracy. CEN caused delayed emotional face processing in young adults, which may be related to unresponsive, unavailable, and limited emotional interaction patterns between parents and their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokang Jin
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Huiyan Lin
- Institute of Applied Psychology, School of Public Administration, Guangdong University of Finance, Guangzhou 510521, China
| | - Juntao Chen
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Ruitong Xu
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Hua Jin
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
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3
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Neil L, Viding E, Armbruster-Genc D, Lisi M, Mareschal I, Rankin G, Sharp M, Phillips H, Rapley J, Martin P, McCrory E. Trust and childhood maltreatment: evidence of bias in appraisal of unfamiliar faces. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:655-662. [PMID: 34500497 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child maltreatment is associated with poorer social functioning and increased risk of mental health problems in adolescence and adulthood, but the processes underlying these associations remain unclear. Although crucial for establishing and maintaining relationships, trust judgements have not been experimentally investigated in children who have experienced abuse and neglect. METHODS A community-based sample of 75 children aged 8-16 years with maltreatment documented on the basis of social services records, and a group of 70 peers matched on age, gender, cognitive ability, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity took part in the study. Children completed a trustworthiness face-judgement task in which they appraised the trustworthiness of unfamiliar facial stimuli varying along a computationally modelled trustworthiness dimension. RESULTS In line with clinical observations that childhood maltreatment is associated with an atypical pattern of trust processing, children with maltreatment experience were significantly less likely than their peers to rate unfamiliar faces as trustworthy. Moreover, they were more variable in their trust attributions than their peers. CONCLUSIONS The study provides compelling experimental evidence that children with documented maltreatment perceive others as less trustworthy than their peers and are less consistent in their estimates of trustworthiness in others. Over time, alterations in trust processing may disrupt the development of social bonds and contribute to 'social thinning' (a reduction in the extent and quality of social relationships), leaving children more vulnerable to environmental stressors, increasing risk of mental health difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Neil
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Essi Viding
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Matteo Lisi
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | | | - Georgia Rankin
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Molly Sharp
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Harriet Phillips
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK.,Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London, UK
| | - Jessica Rapley
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Peter Martin
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Eamon McCrory
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK.,Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London, UK
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4
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Rochat MJ. Sex and gender differences in the development of empathy. J Neurosci Res 2022; 101:718-729. [PMID: 35043464 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The topic of typical sex and gender difference in empathy is examined in both a developmental and neuroscientific perspective. Empathy is construed as a multi-layered phenomenon with various degrees of complexity unfolding in ontogeny. The different components of empathy (i.e., affective, cognitive, and prosocial motivation) will be discussed as they interact and are expressed behaviorally. Significant sex/gender differences in empathy are discussed in relation to putative bottom-up or top-down processes underlying empathetic responses. The early onset and the pervasive presence of such sex/gender differences throughout the lifespan are further discussed in light of social and neurobiological modeling factors, including early socialization, brain's structural/functional variances, as well as genetics and hormonal factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Jane Rochat
- Functional and Molecular Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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5
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Goldstein BL, Grasso DJ, McCarthy KJ, Wakschlag LS, Pine DS, Briggs-Gowan MJ. Intimate Partner Violence Exposure and Childhood Psychopathology: Associations with Discriminating Fearful and Angry Faces in Young Children. JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE 2021; 36:967-978. [PMID: 36337752 PMCID: PMC9634668 DOI: 10.1007/s10896-020-00242-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Childhood exposure to traumatic violence may shape how children respond to threatening faces and increase risk for psychopathology. Maltreated children may exhibit altered processing of threatening faces; however, the effects of witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) on children's discrimination of facial expressions is under-studied. Emotional face processing differentially relates to psychopathology, with some evidence suggesting improved detection of angry faces in children with fear-related anxiety symptoms, whereas externalizing symptoms are associated with poorer detection of fearful faces and perhaps emotional faces broadly. Method In this cross-sectional study, we examined discrimination of threatening emotional faces (angry, fearful) in relation to experiences of probable abuse and witnessing of physical IPV, as well as psychopathology. Children (N = 137, mean age = 5.01 years, SD = 0.81) completed a "face in the crowd task" designed to examine discrimination of angry and fearful faces. Children either searched for an angry face among fearful distractor faces or a fearful face among angry distractors. Probable child abuse, witnessed IPV, and symptoms were assessed in semi-structured maternal interviews. Results Children who witnessed violence showed poorer accuracy when fearful faces were the target; however, effects for probable abuse were non-significant. Greater fear-related anxiety symptoms were associated with poorer accuracy for fearful faces. Externalizing symptoms were associated with poorer overall accuracy. Conclusions Findings suggest that IPV and fear-related anxiety symptoms were associated with difficulty detecting fearful faces when angry distractors were present, consistent with prior research. Implications of violence- and symptom-associated deficits in emotional face processing are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L Goldstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT USA
| | - Damion J Grasso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine Farmington, CT USA
| | - Kimberly J McCarthy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine Farmington, CT USA
| | - Lauren S Wakschlag
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine & Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Daniel S Pine
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD USA
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6
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Nagy SA, Kürtös Z, Németh N, Perlaki G, Csernela E, Lakner FE, Dóczi T, Czéh B, Simon M. Childhood maltreatment results in altered deactivation of reward processing circuits in depressed patients: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of a facial emotion recognition task. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100399. [PMID: 34646916 PMCID: PMC8495173 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance and objectives Childhood adversity is a strong risk factor for the development of various psychopathologies including major depressive disorder (MDD). However, not all depressed patients experience early life trauma. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies using facial emotion processing tasks have documented altered blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses in specific cortico-limbic networks both in MDD patients and in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment (CM). Therefore, a history of maltreatment may represent a key modulating factor responsible for the altered processing of socio-affective stimuli. To test this hypothesis, we recruited MDD patients with and without of maltreatment history to study the long-term consequences of childhood trauma and examined the impact of CM on brain activity using a facial emotion recognition fMRI task. Methods MDD patients with childhood maltreatment (MDD + CM, n = 21), MDD patients without maltreatment (MDD, n = 19), and healthy controls (n = 21) matched for age, sex and intelligence quotient underwent fMRI while performing a block design facial emotion matching task with images portraying negative emotions (fear, anger and sadness). The history of maltreatment was assessed with the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Results Both MDD and MDD + CM patients displayed impaired accuracy to recognize sad faces. Analysis of brain activity revealed that MDD + CM patients had significantly reduced negative BOLD signals in their right accumbens, subcallosal cortex, and anterior paracingulate gyrus compared to controls. Furthermore, MDD + CM patients had a significantly increased negative BOLD response in their right precentral and postcentral gyri compared to controls. We found little difference between MDD and MDD + CM patients, except that MDD + CM patients had reduced negative BOLD response in their anterior paracingulate gyrus relative to the MDD group. Conclusions Our present data provide evidence that depressed patients with a history of maltreatment are impaired in facial emotion recognition and that they display altered functioning of key reward-related fronto-striatal circuits during a facial emotion matching task. History of childhood maltreatment (CM) can alter socio-cognitive functioning in adults. We studied depressed patients with and without CM with age, gender and IQ matched controls. Brain activity was assessed with fMRI using a facial emotion matching task. CM patients had impaired accuracy to recognize facial emotions, especially sadness. CM patients had altered negative BOLD signals in their fronto-striatal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szilvia Anett Nagy
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,MTA-PTE, Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Pécs Diagnostic Centre, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Kürtös
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Pécs Diagnostic Centre, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nándor Németh
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Perlaki
- MTA-PTE, Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Pécs Diagnostic Centre, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Eszter Csernela
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Flóra Elza Lakner
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Dóczi
- MTA-PTE, Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Pécs Diagnostic Centre, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Boldizsár Czéh
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Maria Simon
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai János Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Hungary
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7
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Milojevich HM, Lindquist KA, Sheridan MA. Adversity and Emotional Functioning. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2021; 2:324-344. [PMID: 36059901 PMCID: PMC9382958 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-021-00054-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to early adversity has been linked to variations in emotional functioning. To date, however, the precise nature of these variations has been difficult to pinpoint given widespread differences in the ways in which aspects of emotional functioning are defined and measured. Here, more consistent with models of emotional functioning in typically developing populations (e.g., Halberstadt et al., 2001), we propose defining emotional functioning as consisting of distinct domains of emotion expression, perception, knowledge, reactivity, and regulation. We argue that this framework is useful for guiding hypothesis generation about the specific impact of early adversity on children's emotional functioning. We operationalize the construct of emotional functioning, highlight what is currently known about the association between adversity exposure and each domain of emotional functioning, propose potential mechanisms for these associations, and set the stage for future research examining the development of emotional functioning in the context of early adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen M. Milojevich
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 NE 13th Street, Nicholson Tower Suite 4976, OK 73104 Oklahoma City, USA
| | - Kristen A. Lindquist
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Margaret A. Sheridan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
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8
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Dickerson KL, Quas JA. Emotional awareness, empathy, and generosity in high-risk youths. J Exp Child Psychol 2021; 208:105151. [PMID: 33892296 PMCID: PMC8218817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2021.105151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Although maltreatment places youths at risk for substantial deficits in prosociality, effective methods of improving these deficits have yet to be identified. The current investigation tested whether prosociality could be enhanced in maltreated youths by increasing their awareness of others' sadness. Maltreated youths (n = 145) and matched community youths (n = 106) aged 6-17 years completed a sharing task within which labels about a peer's emotions (sad vs. neutral) were experimentally manipulated. Youths who received the sad emotion label about a peer's feelings showed greater empathic concern, and in turn generosity, toward that peer than youths who received the neutral label. Findings offer new insight into potential methods of improving prosocial responding in youths and thus provide direction for intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli L Dickerson
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
| | - Jodi A Quas
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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9
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Laamanen P, Kiuru N, Flykt M, Vänskä M, Hietanen JK, Peltola MJ, Kurkela E, Poikkeus P, Tiitinen A, Lindblom J. How do early family systems predict emotion recognition in middle childhood? SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/sode.12526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Laamanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Noona Kiuru
- Department of Psychology University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Finland
| | - Marjo Flykt
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology Tampere University Tampere Finland
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics Faculty of medicine University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Mervi Vänskä
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Jari K. Hietanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Mikko J. Peltola
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Enni Kurkela
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Piia Poikkeus
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Helsinki University Central Hospital Hospital and University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Aila Tiitinen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Helsinki University Central Hospital Hospital and University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Jallu Lindblom
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology Tampere University Tampere Finland
- Department of Clinical Medicine University of Turku Turku Finland
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10
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Hepp J, Schmitz SE, Urbild J, Zauner K, Niedtfeld I. Childhood maltreatment is associated with distrust and negatively biased emotion processing. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul 2021; 8:5. [PMID: 33536068 PMCID: PMC7856450 DOI: 10.1186/s40479-020-00143-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) propose that trauma entails cognitive alterations of increased distrust and perceived threat from others. We tested whether these predictions also hold in individuals with varying levels of childhood maltreatment (CM), which is much more prevalent than traumatic events as required for a PTSD diagnosis. We hypothesized that higher levels of CM would entail greater distrust and perceived threat, and that distrust would be more change-resistant in participants with more CM. METHODS The study was pre-registered; the pre-registration protocol, data, and code are available at https://osf.io/pufy2/ . We recruited 549 participants (M age = 29.2, 74.5% women) for an online study via websites related to CM, Borderline Personality Disorder, and via snowball method on social media. Participants self-reported their level of CM on the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). Next, they played two rounds of a hypothetical distrust game, indicating the perceived trustworthiness of avatars by way of estimating expected monetary deductions from them (i.e. higher amounts indicating greater distrust). After the first round, we provided participants with the feedback that very little money was taken from them. We expected those with more CM to be less responsive to the positive feedback and to adapt their estimates less in the subsequent round. Following the distrust game, participants completed an emotion rating task in which they rated the emotional expressions of 60 faces on a scale from 'very negative' to 'very positive'. We included angry, fearful, and happy facial expressions, and expected individuals with higher CM levels to provide more negative ratings. We conducted linear mixed effects models with random intercepts for raters and stimuli (crossed), and modelled random slopes for all within-person predictors. RESULTS As hypothesized, higher levels of CM were associated with higher levels of distrust and a weaker decrease in distrust following positive feedback. Further supporting our hypotheses, individuals with higher levels of CM showed more negatively shifted emotion ratings. CONCLUSIONS Increased distrust and perceived interpersonal threat following trauma, as proposed in cognitive models of PTSD, likely also apply to individuals with CM, following a dose-response relationship. We discuss clinical implications of considering any level of CM as a potentially relevant treatment-factor, even when a trauma-related disorder is not the main diagnosis, and propose future research avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Hepp
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Sara E Schmitz
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | | | - Inga Niedtfeld
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
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11
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Saarinen A, Keltikangas-Järvinen L, Jääskeläinen E, Huhtaniska S, Pudas J, Tovar-Perdomo S, Penttilä M, Miettunen J, Lieslehto J. Early Adversity and Emotion Processing From Faces: A Meta-analysis on Behavioral and Neurophysiological Responses. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 6:692-705. [PMID: 33486133 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the link between early adversity (EA) and later-life psychiatric disorders is well established, it has yet to be elucidated whether EA is related to distortions in the processing of different facial expressions. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate whether exposure to EA relates to distortions in responses to different facial emotions at three levels: 1) event-related potentials of the P100 and N170, 2) amygdala functional magnetic resonance imaging responses, and 3) accuracy rate or reaction time in behavioral data. METHODS The systematic literature search (PubMed and Web of Science) up to April 2020 resulted in 29 behavioral studies (n = 8555), 32 functional magnetic resonance imaging studies (n = 2771), and 3 electroencephalography studies (n = 197) for random-effect meta-analyses. RESULTS EA was related to heightened bilateral amygdala reactivity to sad faces (but not other facial emotions). Exposure to EA was related to faster reaction time but a normal accuracy rate in response to angry and sad faces. In response to fearful and happy faces, EA was related to a lower accuracy rate only in individuals with recent EA exposure. This effect was more pronounced in individuals with exposure to EA before (vs. after) the age of 3 years. These findings were independent of psychiatric diagnoses. Because of the low number of eligible electroencephalography studies, no conclusions could be reached regarding the effect of EA on the event-related potentials. CONCLUSIONS EA relates to alterations in behavioral and neurophysiological processing of facial emotions. Our study stresses the importance of assessing age at exposure and time since EA because these factors mediate some EA-related perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aino Saarinen
- Research Unit of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Center for Life Course Health Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Erika Jääskeläinen
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sanna Huhtaniska
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Radiology, Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland
| | - Juho Pudas
- Research Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Santiago Tovar-Perdomo
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; PRONIA Research Group, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Matti Penttilä
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jouko Miettunen
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Johannes Lieslehto
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
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12
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Impact of early life adversities on human brain functioning: A coordinate-based meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:62-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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13
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Xiang Y, Yuan R, Zhao J. Childhood maltreatment and life satisfaction in adulthood: The mediating effect of emotional intelligence, positive affect and negative affect. J Health Psychol 2020; 26:2460-2469. [PMID: 32338529 DOI: 10.1177/1359105320914381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explored the mediation role of emotional intelligence, positive affect, and negative affect in the influence of childhood maltreatment on life satisfaction. A total of 811 participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale validly. Results revealed that emotional intelligence, positive affect and negative affect are mediators between childhood maltreatment and life satisfaction. In addition, childhood maltreatment influenced life satisfaction through the sequential intermediary of "emotional intelligence-positive affect" and "emotional intelligence-negative affect". Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
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White SF, Voss JL, Chiang JJ, Wang L, McLaughlin KA, Miller GE. Exposure to violence and low family income are associated with heightened amygdala responsiveness to threat among adolescents. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2019; 40:100709. [PMID: 31654964 PMCID: PMC6974896 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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 considered in isolation, only violence exposure was associated with heightened amygdala response to angry faces. When considered jointly, violence exposure and lower INR were both associated with increased amygdala response to angry faces and interacted, such that lower INR was associated with increased amygdala reactivity to anger only in those youth reporting no exposure to violence. This pattern of findings raises the possibility that greater amygdala reactivity to threat cues in children raised in low-SES conditions may arise from different factors associated with an economically-deprived environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart F. White
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE, 68010, United States,Corresponding author at: Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE, 68010, United States.
| | - Joel L. Voss
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Jessica J. Chiang
- Institute for Policy Research and Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, United States
| | - Lei Wang
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, United States.
| | - Katie A. McLaughlin
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St. Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
| | - Gregory E. Miller
- Institute for Policy Research and Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, United States
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Autonomic Responses to Emotional Stimuli in Children Affected by Facial Palsy: The Case of Moebius Syndrome. Neural Plast 2019; 2019:7253768. [PMID: 31093273 PMCID: PMC6476053 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7253768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
According to embodied simulation theories, others' emotions are recognized by the unconscious mimicking of observed facial expressions, which requires the implicit activation of the motor programs that produce a specific expression. Motor responses performed during the expression of a given emotion are hypothesized to be directly linked to autonomic responses associated with that emotional behavior. We tested this hypothesis in 9 children (Mage = 5.66) affected by Moebius syndrome (MBS) and 15 control children (Mage = 6.6). MBS is a neurological congenital disorder characterized by underdevelopment of the VI and VII cranial nerves, which results in paralysis of the face. Moebius patients' inability to produce facial expressions impairs their capacity to communicate emotions through the face. We therefore assessed Moebius children's autonomic response to emotional stimuli (video cartoons) by means of functional infrared thermal (fIRT) imaging. Patients showed weaker temperature changes compared to controls, suggesting impaired autonomic activity. They also showed difficulties in recognizing facial emotions from static illustrations. These findings reveal that the impairment of facial movement attenuates the intensity of emotional experience, probably through the diminished activation of autonomic responses associated with emotional stimuli. The current study is the first to investigate emotional responses in MBS children, providing important insights into the role of facial expressions in emotional processing during early development.
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Catalan A, Díaz A, Angosto V, Zamalloa I, Martínez N, Guede D, Aguirregomoscorta F, Bustamante S, Larrañaga L, Osa L, Maruottolo C, Fernández-Rivas A, Bilbao A, Gonzalez-Torres MA. Can childhood trauma influence facial emotion recognition independently from a diagnosis of severe mental disorder? REVISTA DE PSIQUIATRIA Y SALUD MENTAL 2018; 13:140-149. [PMID: 30558956 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Facial emotion recognition (FER) is a fundamental component in social interaction. We know that FER is disturbed in patients with severe mental disorder (SMD), as well as those with a history of childhood trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODS We intend to analyze the possible relationship between the existence of trauma in childhood irrespective of a SMD, measured by the CTQ scale and facial expression recognition, in a sample of three types of subjects (n=321): healthy controls (n=179), patients with BPD (n=69) and patients with a first psychotic episode (n=73). Likewise, clinical and socio-demographic data were collected. The relationship was analyzed by a technique of multivariate regression adjusting for sex, age, IQ, current consumption of drugs and group to which the subject belonged. RESULTS Sexual and/or physical trauma in childhood related independently to the existence of SMD with a worse total FER ratio, as well as to a worse rate of recognition in expressions of happiness. Furthermore, the subjects with a history of childhood trauma attributed expressions of anger and fear more frequently to neutral and happy faces, irrespective of other variables. CONCLUSIONS The existence of trauma in childhood seems to influence the ability of subjects to recognize facial expressions, irrespective of SMD. Trauma is a preventable factor with specific treatment; therefore, attention should be paid to the existence of this background in clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catalan
- Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País-Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Vizcaya, España; Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España; Instituto de Investigación de BioCruces, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, España.
| | - Aida Díaz
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España
| | - Virxinia Angosto
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España
| | - Iker Zamalloa
- Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País-Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Vizcaya, España
| | - Nuria Martínez
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España
| | - David Guede
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España
| | | | - Sonia Bustamante
- Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País-Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Vizcaya, España; Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España; Instituto de Investigación de BioCruces, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, España
| | - Lorea Larrañaga
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España
| | - Luis Osa
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España
| | | | - Arantza Fernández-Rivas
- Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País-Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Vizcaya, España; Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España; Instituto de Investigación de BioCruces, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, España
| | - Amaia Bilbao
- Research Unit - REDISSEC, Basurto University Hospital, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España
| | - Miguel Angel Gonzalez-Torres
- Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País-Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Vizcaya, España; Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España; Instituto de Investigación de BioCruces, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, España
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Docherty M, Kubik J, Herrera CM, Boxer P. Early maltreatment is associated with greater risk of conduct problems and lack of guilt in adolescence. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 79:173-182. [PMID: 29475174 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous research indicates a link between childhood maltreatment and elevated conduct problems. Yet the literature is less clear on associations between maltreatment and callousness (e.g., lack of empathy or guilt). This is a critical gap given that callousness is a robust predictor of serious aggressive and violent behavior. We examine the association between substantiated maltreatment events in childhood and adolescence (up to age 13) and conduct problems and lack of guilt at age 14. We analyze self- and parent-report data along with official maltreatment records on 557 youth (50% female; 69% non-white) from a larger dataset (Longitudinal Studies on Childhood Abuse and Neglect; N = 1354). Results of multinomial logistic regression models indicate that youth with histories of substantiated maltreatment events are more likely to have elevated conduct problems and decreased guilt at age 14, particularly if they experienced maltreatment before the age of four years old. Youth who exhibit conduct problems and also appear to lack guilt are more likely to have a personal history of substantiated maltreatment. We discuss our results in terms of their implications for theory and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joanna Kubik
- School of Criminology, Rutgers University in Newark, NJ
| | | | - Paul Boxer
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University in Newark, NJ
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Kwak JY, Kim JY, Yoon YW. Effect of parental neglect on smartphone addiction in adolescents in South Korea. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 77:75-84. [PMID: 29306184 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of the relationships with parents, peers, and teachers as a cause of adolescents' smartphone addiction, and to examine the effect of parental neglect on smartphone addiction and the mediating effect of relational maladjustment in school, especially focusing on the relational maladjustment with peers and teachers. For this purpose, a survey was conducted of students from middle schools and high schools in four regions of South Korea. A total of 1170 middle-school students who reported using smartphone took part in this study. A multiple mediator model was analyzed using the bootstrapping mediation methods Parental neglect was significantly associated with adolescents' smartphone addiction. Furthermore, in the relationship between parental neglect and smartphone addiction, parental neglect was not significantly associated with the relational maladjustment with peers, whereas the relational maladjustment with peers negatively influenced smartphone addiction. On the other hand, the relational maladjustment with teachers had a partial mediation effect between parental neglect and smartphone addiction. Based on the results of this study, some implications are suggested that include the need for (1) a customized program for adolescents who use smartphones addictively, (2) a family therapy program to strengthen family function, (3) an integrated case-management system to prevent the reoccurrence of parental neglect, (4) a program to improve relationships with teachers, and (5) expanding the leisure activity infrastructure to improve relationships with friends off-line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Yeon Kwak
- Social Welfare Policy, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae Yop Kim
- School of Social Welfare, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yoe Won Yoon
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, USA.
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Doretto V, Scivoletto S. Effects of Early Neglect Experience on Recognition and Processing of Facial Expressions: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8010010. [PMID: 29316648 PMCID: PMC5789341 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Child neglect is highly prevalent and associated with a series of biological and social consequences. Early neglect may alter the recognition of emotional faces, but its precise impact remains unclear. We aim to review and analyze data from recent literature about recognition and processing of facial expressions in individuals with history of childhood neglect. Methods: We conducted a systematic review using PubMed, PsycINFO, ScIELO and EMBASE databases in the search of studies for the past 10 years. Results: In total, 14 studies were selected and critically reviewed. A heterogeneity was detected across methods and sample frames. Results were mixed across studies. Different forms of alterations to perception of facial expressions were found across 12 studies. There was alteration to the recognition and processing of both positive and negative emotions, but for emotional face processing there was predominance in alteration toward negative emotions. Conclusions: This is the first review to examine specifically the effects of early neglect experience as a prevalent condition of child maltreatment. The results of this review are inconclusive due to methodological diversity, implement of distinct instruments and differences in the composition of the samples. Despite these limitations, some studies support our hypothesis that individuals with history of early negligence may present alteration to the ability to perceive face expressions of emotions. The article brings relevant information that can help in the development of more effective therapeutic strategies to reduce the impact of neglect on the cognitive and emotional development of the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Doretto
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, 05403-010 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Sandra Scivoletto
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, 05403-010 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Marta GR, Doretto VF, Scivoletto S. Maltreatment and Emotion Recognition Among Brazilian Adolescents. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:625. [PMID: 30534089 PMCID: PMC6275306 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The experience of maltreatment can impair child development, including changes in the process of emotions recognition, which may result in impairment of social interactions and behavioral disabilities. In order to measure the association between maltreatment and changes on emotion recognition among Brazilian adolescents, the Emotional Recognition Test on Human Faces (ERTHF) was applied to a sample of 50 adolescents who had suffered different intensities and types of abuse. The social and clinical characteristics of the participants were analyzed and, from ERTHF data, the accuracy and response time for the emotion recognition. Males were 60%, with mean age of 13 years and 3 months; 60% were living in shelters. Emotion recognition changes were associated with intensity and types of maltreatment. Physical neglect (48%) was associated with changes in neutral and negative emotions recognition. Emotional neglect (48%) and emotional abuse (46%) were associated with changes in both positive and negative emotions recognition. Physical abuse (38%) was associated with changes in positive emotion recognition only. False recognition of anger was the most common outcome of maltreatment, being associated with physical neglect (p = 0.015) and emotional neglect (p = 0.047). Our results point out to the need to add emotional and facial recognition's rehabilitation interventions to better attend the specific demands of maltreated children and to increase the chances of social and family reintegration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Rodrigues Marta
- Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Victoria Fogaça Doretto
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandra Scivoletto
- Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescencia, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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De Carli P, Riem MM, Parolin L. Approach-avoidance responses to infant facial expressions in nulliparous women: Associations with early experience and mood induction. Infant Behav Dev 2017; 49:104-113. [DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Ardizzi M, Evangelista V, Ferroni F, Umiltà MA, Ravera R, Gallese V. Evidence for Anger Saliency during the Recognition of Chimeric Facial Expressions of Emotions in Underage Ebola Survivors. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1026. [PMID: 28690565 PMCID: PMC5482096 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the crucial features defining basic emotions and their prototypical facial expressions is their value for survival. Childhood traumatic experiences affect the effective recognition of facial expressions of negative emotions, normally allowing the recruitment of adequate behavioral responses to environmental threats. Specifically, anger becomes an extraordinarily salient stimulus unbalancing victims' recognition of negative emotions. Despite the plethora of studies on this topic, to date, it is not clear whether this phenomenon reflects an overall response tendency toward anger recognition or a selective proneness to the salience of specific facial expressive cues of anger after trauma exposure. To address this issue, a group of underage Sierra Leonean Ebola virus disease survivors (mean age 15.40 years, SE 0.35; years of schooling 8.8 years, SE 0.46; 14 males) and a control group (mean age 14.55, SE 0.30; years of schooling 8.07 years, SE 0.30, 15 males) performed a forced-choice chimeric facial expressions recognition task. The chimeric facial expressions were obtained pairing upper and lower half faces of two different negative emotions (selected from anger, fear and sadness for a total of six different combinations). Overall, results showed that upper facial expressive cues were more salient than lower facial expressive cues. This priority was lost among Ebola virus disease survivors for the chimeric facial expressions of anger. In this case, differently from controls, Ebola virus disease survivors recognized anger regardless of the upper or lower position of the facial expressive cues of this emotion. The present results demonstrate that victims' performance in the recognition of the facial expression of anger does not reflect an overall response tendency toward anger recognition, but rather the specific greater salience of facial expressive cues of anger. Furthermore, the present results show that traumatic experiences deeply modify the perceptual analysis of philogenetically old behavioral patterns like the facial expressions of emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ardizzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of ParmaParma, Italy
- Ravera Children Rehabilitation CentreFreetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Francesca Ferroni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of ParmaParma, Italy
| | - Maria A. Umiltà
- Department of Food and Drug Sciences, University of ParmaParma, Italy
| | - Roberto Ravera
- Ravera Children Rehabilitation CentreFreetown, Sierra Leone
- Department of Health Psychology, ASL 1 (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) ImperieseSanremo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Gallese
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of ParmaParma, Italy
- Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of LondonLondon, United Kingdom
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Ardizzi M, Umiltà MA, Evangelista V, Di Liscia A, Ravera R, Gallese V. Less Empathic and More Reactive: The Different Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Facial Mimicry and Vagal Regulation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163853. [PMID: 27685802 PMCID: PMC5042550 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial mimicry and vagal regulation represent two crucial physiological responses to others' facial expressions of emotions. Facial mimicry, defined as the automatic, rapid and congruent electromyographic activation to others' facial expressions, is implicated in empathy, emotional reciprocity and emotions recognition. Vagal regulation, quantified by the computation of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA), exemplifies the autonomic adaptation to contingent social cues. Although it has been demonstrated that childhood maltreatment induces alterations in the processing of the facial expression of emotions, both at an explicit and implicit level, the effects of maltreatment on children's facial mimicry and vagal regulation in response to facial expressions of emotions remain unknown. The purpose of the present study was to fill this gap, involving 24 street-children (maltreated group) and 20 age-matched controls (control group). We recorded their spontaneous facial electromyographic activations of corrugator and zygomaticus muscles and RSA responses during the visualization of the facial expressions of anger, fear, joy and sadness. Results demonstrated a different impact of childhood maltreatment on facial mimicry and vagal regulation. Maltreated children did not show the typical positive-negative modulation of corrugator mimicry. Furthermore, when only negative facial expressions were considered, maltreated children demonstrated lower corrugator mimicry than controls. With respect to vagal regulation, whereas maltreated children manifested the expected and functional inverse correlation between RSA value at rest and RSA response to angry facial expressions, controls did not. These results describe an early and divergent functional adaptation to hostile environment of the two investigated physiological mechanisms. On the one side, maltreatment leads to the suppression of the spontaneous facial mimicry normally concurring to empathic understanding of others' emotions. On the other side, maltreatment forces the precocious development of the functional synchronization between vagal regulation and threatening social cues facilitating the recruitment of fight-or-flight defensive behavioral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ardizzi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Ravera Children Rehabilitation Centre (RCRC), Lakka, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- * E-mail: ,
| | | | | | - Alessandra Di Liscia
- Ravera Children Rehabilitation Centre (RCRC), Lakka, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Department of Health Psychology, Hospital of Sanremo, Sanremo, Italy
| | - Roberto Ravera
- Ravera Children Rehabilitation Centre (RCRC), Lakka, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Department of Health Psychology, Hospital of Sanremo, Sanremo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Gallese
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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