Investigating the Proximal Impact of Early Life Adversity on Neural Reward and Threat Reactivity in Early Childhood

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PROJECT SUMMARY Early Life Adversity (ELA), defined as childhood experiences which require significant adaptation beyond the child’s developmental stage, is of critical concern, as it is reliably predictive of increased risk for the leading causes of morbidity and increased severity, chronicity, and overall risk for psychiatric disorders. Dysfunction in neural reward and threat systems may represent a mechanism through which ELA increases risk for later psychopathology; however, few studies have examined the proximal impact of ELA on reward and threat processing in early childhood, prior to periods of enhanced risk for psychopathology onset. Conceptual models suggest that different forms of ELA may differentially impact neural reactivity, and indeed, studies find that experiences of threat to one’s safety may be more strongly linked to enhanced threat sensitivity while exposure to deprivation, such as neglect, may be more strongly tied to blunted reward processing. Previous studies have been limited by small sample sizes and adolescent or adult samples due to the cost-prohibitive, developmentally-challenging nature of methods previously used (i.e., neuroimaging). Electroencephalogram (EEG) may enhance investigations of ELA and neuroaffective processing, given that EEG is cost-effective and developmentally sensitive. The reward positivity (RewP) is an event-related potential component which indexes neural reward responsiveness while the error-related negativity (ERN) captures threat sensitivity. Preliminary evidence indicates support for dysregulated processing styles (i.e., enhanced ERN, reduced RewP) related to greater ELA exposure; however, this relationship has been relatively unexamined in children. In addition, decomposition of ERP components into frequency rather than time-domains represents an innovative, novel method for enhancing nuanced understanding of the targeted influence of ELA on neuroaffective processing. The current proposal seeks to replicate and extend findings regarding relations between ELA and reward and threat processing to an early childhood sample (n = 120 5-6 year olds) using reliable, developmentally- sensitive neurophysiological tools. The candidate will first evaluate the impact of ELA, particularly experiences of deprivation, on indices of reward processing (i.e., RewP, underlying delta; Aim 1). We will then test the impact of ELA, particularly experiences of threat, on neural threat sensitivity (i.e., ERN, underlying theta; Aim 2). Finally, we will explore maternal caregiving as a moderator of ELA-affective processing relations (Aim 3). The proposed aims will address the applicant’s training goals by providing: 1) knowledge of conceptual models of ELA and key developmental constructs, 2) training in EEG collection, preprocessing, and advanced analyses, and 3) advanced statistical training for developmental research. Findings have the potential to inform targets for early, preventive intervention for ELA-exposed youth to alter risk sequelae for later psychopathology and enhance overall health and human capital. The proposed F31 will contribute to the applicant’s career goal of becoming an early career researcher examining predictors of affective dysfunction and internalizing risk.