Perceived stress is associated with smaller hippocampal volume in adolescence

Perceived stress has been associated with decreased hippocampal, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex volume, as well as decreased memory and executive functioning performance in adulthood. Parents' perceived stress has been linked to decreased hippocampal volume in young children. However, no studi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychophysiology 2018-05, Vol.55 (5), p.e13025-n/a
Main Authors: Piccolo, Luciane R., Noble, Kimberly G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Adolescent
Adolescents
Amygdala
Amygdala - diagnostic imaging
Child
Child development
Children
Cognitive ability
Executive function
Executive Function - physiology
Female
Functional anatomy
Hippocampus
Hippocampus - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory
Memory, Short-Term - physiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Organ Size - physiology
perceived stress
Prefrontal cortex
Prefrontal Cortex - diagnostic imaging
Socioeconomic Factors
stress
Stress, Psychological - diagnostic imaging
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Structure-function relationships
Teenagers
Young Adult
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Summary:Perceived stress has been associated with decreased hippocampal, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex volume, as well as decreased memory and executive functioning performance in adulthood. Parents' perceived stress has been linked to decreased hippocampal volume in young children. However, no studies have investigated the links between self‐perceived stress and brain structure or function in adolescents. Additionally, findings from previous research with younger or older samples are inconsistent, likely in part due to inconsistencies in participants' age range. In this study, we investigated the associations among self‐perceived stress, family socioeconomic factors (family income, parental education), subcortical (hippocampus, amygdala) volumes, prefrontal cortical thickness and surface area, and memory and executive functioning performance in adolescents. One hundred and forty‐three participants (12–20 years old) were administered a cognitive battery, a questionnaire to assess perceived stress, and a structural MRI scan. Higher levels of perceived stress were associated with decreased adolescent hippocampal volume. This study provides empirical evidence of how experience may shape brain development in adolescence—a period of plasticity during which it may be possible to intervene and prevent negative developmental outcomes.
ISSN:0048-5772
1469-8986
1540-5958
DOI:10.1111/psyp.13025