Early life adversity is associated with greater amygdala reactivity and diminished prefrontal cortex reactivity, according to the results of a meta-analysis of 83 neuroimaging studies.
By Brita Belli
April 12, 2021
Share this with FacebookShare this with TwitterShare this with LinkedInShare this with EmailPrint this
(Illustration by Michael S. Helfenbein)
For all the attention paid to the short and long-term physical effects of COVID-19, the disease has serious mental health consequences, too.
In a new report, Yale researchers examine how the pandemic is affecting our brains in particular the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that is involved in decision making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
For 44 to 66 million disadvantaged Americans, the researchers say, the pandemic is exacerbating existing stressors including financial insecurity and systemic racism which impairs prefrontal cortical performance that is critical for regulating emotions and coping, among other functions.