Children who are victims or witnesses of domestic violence show similar patterns of brain activity to soldiers who have served in combat, according to new research.
Just like soldiers with experience of battle, abused children’s brains show heightened activity in two brain regions that are known to be associated with detecting threats, scientists at University College London have found.
As both brain regions are also linked to anxiety disorders, the results could explain why children who are physically or emotionally abused have a higher risk for developing such problems later in life.
The results, from the first study to use brain scans to investigate maltreated children, could offer new insights into the effects of violence on their mental development.
The research suggests that exposure to