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Early life stress is associated with greater default network deactivation during working memory in healthy controls: a preliminary report

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Abstract

Early life stress (ELS) is a common risk factor for psychopathology, but there are few functional neuroimaging studies investigating its effects. In this preliminary study, we investigated the correlates of ELS exposure on the default network (DN) through measurements of task-associated DN deactivation. Data were analyzed from 19 subjects without psychiatric illness (10 with ELS). Subjects performed the working memory (WM) N-back task (including a 2-back WM and 0-back control condition) while undergoing functional MRI. We compared brain responses in the two groups across 5 bilateral DN regions using an a priori region of interest (ROI) analysis. The ELS group demonstrated significantly greater DN deactivation, observed in the right posterior cingulate cortex PCC, bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, left middle/superior frontal gyrus and right middle temporal region. These preliminary results indicate subjects with ELS demonstrate greater DN deactivations to WM challenges compared to non-ELS controls, potentially reflecting a biomarker of long-term effects of ELS exposure.

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Acknowledgments

Supported in part by NIH T32MH067553, R01HL084178, and P50CA084719. The authors wish to thank Denise M. Cote, M.S., for technical assistance, and Jason Hassenstab, Ph.D., for methodological assistance. This data was presented in part at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Psychiatry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Noah S. Philip, Audrey R. Tyrka, Lawrence H. Price, Linda L. Carpenter & Yuliya I. Kuras

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Lawrence H. Sweet

  3. Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Uraina S. Clark

  4. American Legacy Foundation, Washington, DC, USA

    Raymond S. Niaura

  5. Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI, 02906, USA

    Noah S. Philip

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Correspondence to Noah S. Philip.

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Philip, N.S., Sweet, L.H., Tyrka, A.R. et al. Early life stress is associated with greater default network deactivation during working memory in healthy controls: a preliminary report. Brain Imaging and Behavior 7, 204–212 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9216-x

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