Kanske, P. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2026

Secure Attachment despite Childhood Maltreatment: Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Interpersonal Resilience

BackgroundChildhood maltreatment is a traumatic interpersonal stressor that increases vulnerability for depression in adulthood. However, some individuals show secure attachment despite childhood maltreatment, a pattern that can be described as interpersonal resilience. The present study examined the behavioral and neural correlates of interpersonal resilience, defined as secure attachment in adults exposed to childhood maltreatment. MethodsWe analyzed structural 3T MRI data from 1,317 adults, including healthy participants and individuals with partially or fully remitted major depression. Gray matter volume was estimated from structural MRI data using voxel-based morphometry. Attachment style and childhood maltreatment were assessed using the Relationship Scales Questionnaire and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, respectively. A 2x2 design (childhood maltreatment by attachment style) tested main and interaction effects on behavioral outcomes and brain structure. ResultsInterpersonally resilient individuals with secure attachment and maltreatment reported significantly better mental health outcomes compared to insecurely attached adults with maltreatment. Differences included lower self-reported and rater-based depressive symptoms, lower global symptom severity, and higher global functioning. In the neuroimaging analyses, we identified a significant childhood maltreatment by attachment style interaction in the left supramarginal gyrus, with larger gray matter volume in resilient individuals compared to all other groups. This effect remained robust across multiple sensitivity analyses, controlling for medication load, antidepressant intake, diagnosis group, as well as in a complementary dimensional analysis. ConclusionsThe results identify a potential neural correlate of interpersonal resilience. Larger gray matter volume in the left supramarginal gyrus, a region previously implicated in perspective taking and self-other distinction among other functions, may be relevant to more adaptive interpersonal functioning after early adversity. Together with the robust behavioral effects, these findings are consistent with secure attachment as a protective factor that may be associated with attenuated effects of childhood maltreatment on mental health.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

A low-dimensional connectome manifold governs the organization and plasticity of social brain functions in humans.

The human brain scaffolds social cognitive functions, including Theory of Mind, empathy and compassion, through its functional and microstructural organization. However, it remains unclear how the learning and refinement of these skills may, in turn, shape brain function and structure. Here we studied if different types of social mental training can lead to plastic changes in brain function and microstructure. We studied a group of 332 healthy adults (197 women, 20-55 years) with repeated multimodal neuroimaging and behavioral testing. Our neuroimaging approach capitalized on the quantification of cortical functional gradients and myelin-sensitive T1 relaxometry, two emerging measures of cortical functional organization and microstructure. Longitudinal analysis indicated marked changes in intrinsic cortical function and microstructure, which varied as a function of social training content. In particular, we observed consistent differential change in function and microstructure between attention-mindfulness and socio-cognitive training in regions functionally associated with attention and interoception, including insular and parietal cortices. Conversely, socio-affective and socio-cognitive training resulted in differential microstructural changes in regions classically implicated in interoceptive and emotional processing, including insular and orbitofrontal areas, but did not result in functional reorganization. Notably, longitudinal changes in cortical function and microstructure were predictive of behavioral change in attention, compassion and perspective-taking, suggesting behavioral relevance. In sum, our work provides evidence for functional and microstructural plasticity after the training of social-interoceptive functions, and provides a causal perspective on the neural basis of behavioral adaptation in human adults.

neuroscience↗