09/30/2025
A study led by Dr. Eamon McCrory at University College London used fMRI brain scans to compare children exposed to family violence with those from stable homes. According to Current Biology and the International Association for the Study of Pain, children who had experienced abuse or chronic conflict showed heightened activity in the amygdala and anterior insula, the same brain regions activated in combat soldiers exposed to war.
These areas are responsible for threat detection and emotional regulation, and their hyperactivation suggests the brain has adapted to a constant state of alert, essentially functioning as if the child were in a war zone. What’s striking is that these children showed no outward signs of mental illness, meaning the changes were happening beneath the surface, potentially setting the stage for future anxiety or emotional challenges.
The findings highlight how chronic emotional stress in unstable families can rewire the brain in ways that mirror post-traumatic stress responses seen in veterans. It’s a powerful reminder that emotional safety is as vital to development as physical safety.
