The effects of sexual abuse on female adolescent brain structures

Abstract

Sexual abuse (SA) is known for its effects on brain structures in adolescents. We aimed to explore if SA has any effect on limbic and prefrontal cortex (PFC) structures. We hypothesized that children with SA would have a thinner PFC with larger amygdala and hippocampus that lead to aberrations in threat detection, orientation and response circuit; that would be highly adaptive in a dangerous environment in the short term.

Keywords

• sexual abuse
• cortical thickness
• amygdala
• hippocampus
• prefrontal cortex