A groundbreaking study has revealed the powerful impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on brain function, offering critical insights into how early trauma shapes mental health in adulthood. Published today in Frontiers in Psychiatry, this is the largest brain-imaging study ever conducted on ACEs.

The study involved over 7,000 participants and used brain SPECT imaging and clinical evaluations to map how childhood trauma affects brain activity. Results show that higher ACE scores are closely linked to an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.

Crucial findings revealed abnormal activity in areas of the brain associated with emotional pain and decision-making, such as the anterior cingulate and thalamus. These areas, responsible for processing both physical and emotional suffering, were overactive in individuals with high ACE scores, explaining the link between childhood trauma and conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic migraines.

A major international study, published this week in JAMA Psychiatry, has identified a powerful new brain-based biomarker for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), marking a potential turning point in how depression is diagnosed and treated. The study used regional cerebral blood flow (RCBF) data measured by brain SPECT imaging to validate a reproducible, regionally specific pattern of hypoperfusion in the brains of individuals suffering from depression.

This landmark research demonstrates that functional brain changes—specifically decreased blood flow—are more accurate markers of depression than structural brain changes like cortical thinning, which have historically shown weak and inconsistent associations.

The study examined more than 15,000 participants across four major databases, including the UK Biobank, ENIGMA Consortium, Amish Connectome Project, and Amen Clinics Inc. Notably, the blood flow patterns from SPECT scans aligned strongly with novel MRI-based measures of brain function (ReHo), confirming that decreased activity in the cingulate, prefrontal, and temporal lobes is a hallmark of depression.

Even more importantly, the study found that these blood flow deficits were strongly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms, opening the door for precision diagnostics and individualized treatment plans based on imaging biomarkers.

A groundbreaking new study accepted for publication in Depression and Anxiety reveals that individuals with high levels of conscious negativity bias—where the mind fixates on potential dangers or worst-case scenarios—show significant dysfunction in brain regions tied to emotional regulation and cognitive control.

Researchers analyzed brain scans and cognitive data from 1,984 patients with anxiety disorders, using advanced SPECT imaging and the Total Brain assessment platform. The findings were striking: higher negativity bias was associated with decreased activity in the frontal and temporal lobes, the insula, and parietal regions—all areas involved in focus, decision-making, and emotional stability. In contrast, increased activity was observed in specific cerebellar lobules, linked to motor tension and emotional overactivation.

Patients with elevated negativity bias also reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, emotional instability, and poor memory and stress regulation.

The study underscores the importance of addressing negativity bias in therapy—not just for emotional relief but also for improving brain health and cognitive performance. Researchers recommend positivity bias training, including simple daily practices like:

• Starting the day by saying: “Today is going to be a great day,”
• Actively looking for the micro-moments of happiness during the day,
• And ending each day by reflecting on: “What went well today?”