Study of objective methods for evaluating the effects of childhood neglect

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18499
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 9:Education and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: 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)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: マルトリートメント / ネグレクト / 子ども虐待 / 脳画像解析 / 安静時fMRI解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Children who grow up in impoverished and neglectful environments require immediate intervention and treatment due to lifelong brain vulnerability, increased mental illness risk, and higher suicide rates. In this study, we conducted a case-control analysis comparing brain structure and function between neglected Japanese children and their typically developing peers.
The results showed that neglected children had a larger anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and a smaller gray matter volume in the left angular gyrus (AG). A larger ACC was linked to hyperactivity and inattention. Additionally, resting-state fMRI analysis revealed increased functional connectivity between the left angular gyrus and the left cerebellum, which correlated with behavioral difficulties. These findings offer critical insights into how neglect impacts brain structure and function, underscoring the need for evidence-based early intervention and support for neglectful families. The results were published in NeuroImage.

Free Research Field

小児発達学、子ども学、小児神経学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、ネグレクトが脳の構造と機能に与える影響を理解するための重要な手がかりを提供する。これにより、エビデンスに基づくネグレクト家庭への早期介入や支援の推進に繋がると期待され、今後の教育学（子ども学）領域の発展に寄与すると考えられる。