Childhood trauma changes how the brain processes caregiver cues

For most young children, the sight and voice of a parent serve as a primary source of comfort and safety. A new study suggests that for children who have experienced interpersonal violence or abuse, the brain processes these caregiver signals in a distinct way. Researchers found that a history of threat experiences is linked to heightened activity in the insula, a brain region involved in sensing the body’s internal state and determining what is important in the environment. These findings, published in the journal Developmental Science, offer new insight into how early adversity may shape the developing brain.