New Brain Abnormalities Associated with Child Abuse

Immunolabeling of parvalbumin neurons ( in green ) surrounded by perineuronal nets ( in red ) in the human prefrontal cortex. Arnaud Tanti/Inserm - In collaboration with a Canadian team, scientists from Inserm and Université de Tours, at Unit 1253 Imaging & Brain1, have shown in post-mortem brain samples that victims of child abuse present specific brain characteristics. The teams have revealed for the first time in humans an increase in the number and maturation of perineuronal nets, dense protein structures surrounding the neurons. In animals, this phenomenon regulates brain plasticity by inhibiting the remodeling of neural networks. This research suggests that abuse could cause lasting changes to the developmental trajectories of certain brain regions with potential effects on psychological health. The study has been published in Molecular Psychiatry . Child abuse has effects on psychological development, including an increased risk of depression and suicide during the course of life.