Research on the neural basis and neurophysiological marker of reactive attachment disorder caused by childhood maltreatment using functional brain imaging

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K21026
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Pediatrics; Basic / Social brain science
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: TAKIGUCHI Shinichiro 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門(附属病院部), 特命助教 (70382926)
• Research Collaborator: TOMODA Akemi 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 教授 (80244135) ; FUJISAWA Takashi 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 特命講師 (90434894) ; SHIMADA Koji 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 特命助教 (00711128) ; KOSAKA Hirotaka 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 教授 (70401966) ; SAITO Daisuke 金沢大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 准教授 (30390701)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 反応性愛着障害 / 児童虐待 / 脳画像解析 / fMRI / 報酬系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Childhood maltreatment is a major risk factor for reactive attachment disorder (RAD). We examined whether neural activity during reward processing was altered in children and adolescents with RAD using functional MRI. Significantly reduced activity in the striatum was observed in the RAD group compared with the TD group. And significant negative correlations between striatal activity and avoidant attachment were observed. The present results suggest that dopaminergic dysfunction occurs in the striatum of children and adolescents with RAD. Another study examined the neural effects of intranasal oxytocin on reward processing in children with RAD. Male children with RAD and TD individuals performed monetary reward task during functional MRI. Oxytocin enhanced striatal activation in the RAD group by the analysis of reward sensitivity using task contrast, but not in the TD group. These findings indicate that oxytocin may promote reward processing in RAD.

Free Research Field

小児精神神経学、小児発達学