DID YOU KNOW...significant childhood trauma can cause a decrease growth of the brain!!!

​DID YOU KNOW...that significant childhood trauma can cause a decrease or cease in growth of the pre-frontal cortex in the brain, reduced brain size and reduced neural connections!!
The picture on the left = a healthy 3 year old with an average head size.
The picture on the right = a 3 year old who is suffering severe sensory deprivation neglect. The brain is significantly smaller than average and has abnormal development in the pre-frontal cortex.
(Perry & Pollard, 1997)
The pre-frontal cortex is important for the development of personality, attention, memory and differentiation between good/bad or same/different.
* The good news is that with strong positive support system following the traumatic event, the outcomes of these patients are much better and they are much less likely to develop long term mental health conditions.
So...if you know a child that has suffered a significant trauma, give them all the love and support that you can!!!