Do the kinds of emotional experiences kids have really matter?

What is it about?

In the past, children viewed as "at-risk" tended to be lumped together. Those who experienced abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, domestic violence, poverty-- were studied as one homogeneous group. But from the perspective of the developing brain, these experiences would be expected to have different kinds of effects on the developing brain. And they appear to.

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Why is it important?

This study is unusual in that the authors were able to contrast children who experienced abuse (high levels of threat and harm) with those who experienced neglect (lack of care and attention). Although both groups of children could be categorized together as "maltreated," the two groups of children displayed very different kids of emotional behavior. The results highlight the ways that human brain development is flexible and adaptive, even though some life circumstances will lead to long term harm.