Emily Tran (Author), Alice Xu (Mentor)
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) found that approximately one billion children between two and 17 years old experienced sexual, physical, or emotional violence within a year (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). While some children experience a fairytale-like childhood, others are forced to endure a constant battle against villainous trauma. Childhood trauma can come in many forms, including neglect, household dysfunction, and physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. It is defined not only by the overwhelming and threatening events experienced but also by the lasting absence of security and stability, which makes it extremely difficult to recover from such events. Yet, no matter what form childhood trauma comes in, collectively, all abuse has been found to negatively affect the brain. Beyond the immediate effects of childhood trauma, like persistent fear and anxiety, childhood trauma affects structural and functional changes in brain development and increases the potential risk of neurodegenerative disorders extending into adulthood. Fortunately, the brain does not easily accept defeat – the superpower of neuroplasticity can be a valuable component to trauma recovery. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt and rewire to form new neural pathways when it is presented with different obstacles and environments.
Neuroplasticity is especially important to recovery from childhood trauma, as several regions of the brain involved in memory, emotion, and impulse control are directly impacted by adverse childhood experiences. Childhood trauma often leads to hypersensitivity of limbic structures, in which chronic overactivity causes individuals to become overly reactive to emotional stimuli and stress (Assogna et al., 2020). While this occurs, parts of the brain, such as the amygdala and hippocampus, critical to emotional regulation and memory processing, actually experience a reduction in volume in response to trauma. The reduction in volume is associated with the development of bipolar and depressive disorders, as changes in the amygdala can increase emotional reactivity and heighten sensitivity to stress (Jaworska-Andryszewska et al., 2019). Therefore, longitudinal studies have been conducted to identify the relationship between child abuse and neural structures associated with psychiatric disorders in adolescents. For instance, repeated MRI scanning and diagnostic structured interviews have been used to find that child abuse impacts reduced cortical thickness in lateral and medial prefrontal and temporal lobes (Busso et al., 2017). The implications for such alterations in the physical structure of the brain include difficulties in rational thinking and behavior in everyday life, sometimes being impulsively defensive rather than well-grounded.
Some medical approaches have been studied to alleviate the effects of childhood trauma using its known effects on specific genes. For example, studies have focused on targeting the serotonin transport gene and FKBP5 gene in the brain, regulating the Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis stress response, which in turn regulates gene expression for synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning (Jaworska-Andryszewska et al., 2019). Fortunately, since neural plasticity is strongest during childhood, there has been preclinical and clinical research primarily focused on plasticity-related molecular processes to respond to traumatic events in childhood. For example, some have suggested that increasing BDNF/TrkB signaling (which promotes neural growth) with antidepressant treatment can induce juvenile-like plasticity in combination with psychotherapy to alleviate the negative effects of childhood trauma. In addition, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) targets the anxiety and depression that stem from childhood trauma by focusing on changing negative, dysfunctional thinking patterns to more positive, functional ones (Mayo Clinic, 2025). Combining the antidepressant nefazodone and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, which can be incorporated into daily life, has been shown to produce more effective changes in trauma recovery than either alone (Miskolczi et al., 2018). Therefore, this highlights how medical interventions can support improvements in the brain, but it is still crucial to incorporate behavioral approaches to maximize support for trauma recovery.
Effective behavioral approaches begin in everyday interactions, as safe and secure interactions between individuals who experienced childhood adversities and their close ones help build trust and support how the brain rewires through neuroplasticity. Studying stress neurobiology is essential to identify which methods of preventive intervention are most effective to aid recovery, as experience-induced alterations in stress-responsive neurobiological systems influence how previously abused children recover from trauma (Bruce et al., 2013). Sometimes, previously abused children carry over negative interaction patterns with adults to foster or adoptive homes, in which undesirable behaviors are reinforced rather than revised (Prather et al., 2009). In these cases, it is important to identify toxic patterns and attempt to approach situations from a different perspective, acknowledging the negative past of the child and trying to express care that encourages the children to be comfortable changing their ways. With nurturing and trusting relationships with caregivers, including positive communication and empathy, the brain’s stress response system can shift from a toxic state of trauma to a protective one with proper nourishment (Vanderzee et al., 2018).
Various programs in the United States focus on a mission to help parents and caregivers support their children in coping and recovering from childhood trauma. Namely, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) offers free resources as well as a curriculum called “Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma” in order to guide parents and caregivers to understand the effects of trauma on their children, and encourage that health and productive lifestyles are still possible. Other organizations, such as UCSF Child Trauma Research Program and Prevent Child Abuse America, create a bridge between scientific research and household support. However, these organizations alone are not sufficient to address childhood trauma, as each child and their process of recovery is unique. Through learning about both scientific and day-to-day approaches to combat the effects of childhood trauma, including medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, and creating a warm and supportive environment, anyone can implement effective changes themselves. Even a few words of affirmation before a child goes to school can be the stepping stones to healing – the villainous cycle of trauma does not have to prevail when a team of superheroes all fight it together.
About the Author
Author: Emily Tran is a second-year pre-medical student at UCLA with a strong passion for healthcare and working with children. She is particularly interested in child development, health, and education, and some of her most meaningful experiences have come from working with local elementary schools. Researching child psychology aligns with her long-term goal of pursuing pediatrics and promoting effective science communication for children and their families.
Mentor: Alice Xu is a graduate student in developmental psychology at UCLA. She studies how people build knowledge across development, from young children learning new words to college students developing understanding in complex domains. Her work focuses on understanding the mechanisms that support learning and on designing tools and learning environments that make learning more effective.
References
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