Premium
A Family Focused Intervention Influences Hippocampal‐Prefrontal Connectivity Through Gains in Self‐Regulation
Author(s) -
Hanson Jamie L.,
Gillmore Alysha D.,
Yu Tianyi,
Holmes Christopher J.,
Hallowell Emily S.,
Barton Allen W.,
Beach Steven R.H.,
Galván Adrianna,
MacKillop James,
Windle Michael,
Chen Edith,
Miller Gregory E.,
Sweet Lawrence H.,
Brody Gene H.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.13154
Subject(s) - psychology , intervention (counseling) , prefrontal cortex , hippocampal formation , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , neuroscience , cognition , psychiatry
The stressors associated with poverty increase the risks for externalizing psychopathology; however, specific patterns of neurobiology and higher self‐regulation may buffer against these effects. This study leveraged a randomized control trial, aimed at increasing self‐regulation at ~11 years of age. As adults, these same individuals completed functional MRI scanning ( M age = 24.88 years; intervention n = 44; control n = 49). Functional connectivity between the hippocampus and ventromedial prefrontal cortex was examined in relation to the intervention, gains in self‐regulation, and present‐day externalizing symptoms. Increased connectivity between these brain areas was noted in the intervention group compared to controls. Furthermore, individual gains in self‐regulation, instilled by the intervention, statistically explained this brain difference. These results begin to connect neurobiological and psychosocial markers of risk and resiliency.