White matter microstructure abnormalities in children experiencing neglect without other forms of maltreatment

Childhood maltreatment can disrupt brain development, leading to vulnerabilities in white matter (WM) microstructure, compromised brain integrity, and various psychiatric disorders. Among different forms of maltreatment, neglect is the most common; however, limited data exist on its specific impact on the brain. This study utilized diffusion tensor imaging to examine WM microstructure differences between neglected children without other types of maltreatment (Neglect, n = 21) and typically developing controls (TD, n = 106). Additionally, the study explored the relationship between WM microstructure alterations and psychosocial problems observed in neglected children. Neglected children exhibited larger axial diffusion (AD) in regions such as the right corticospinal tract (R.CST), right superior longitudinal fasciculus (R.SLF), and left cingulum (L.CG) compared to typically developing children. Increased AD in the R.CST, L.CG, and R.SLF was associated with conduct problems. These findings suggest that alterations in WM microstructure contributed to behavioral symptoms in neglected children.