Early life stress relates to brain connectivity and learning

What is it about?

The paper is about how early life stress can weaken a particular brain connection, called the accumbofrontal tract, which can then lead to problems with learning from feedback. The study used brain imaging to investigate this relationship in youth who had different levels of stress. The findings suggest that early life stress can have long-lasting effects on brain function, and may have implications for the development of treatments for individuals who have experienced early life adversity.

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Photo by zhenzhong liu on Unsplash

Photo by zhenzhong liu on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is important because it sheds light on the long-lasting effects of early life stress on the brain's ability to learn from feedback. This could have implications for their ability to make decisions later in life. Understanding the mechanisms by which early life stress affects brain function can help in the development of targeted interventions for individuals who have experienced adversity in childhood, ultimately improving their well-being and quality of life.