Two researchers from the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, Michael Burman, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, and post-doctoral fellow Seth Davis, Ph.D., have published a recent study that sheds more light into how early life trauma can negatively impact health later in life. The publication in the journal of Stress, “Maternal separation with neonatal pain influences later-life fear conditioning and somatosenation in male and female rats”, expands on research the Burman Collaborative has been conducting into how pain experienced in early life can increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders later in adolescences. Dr. Davis said of the current publication, “We have repeatedly shown that early-life trauma has a negative impact later in life, however we have only been focused on one component (neonatal pain) present in the human condition. Neonatal ICU patients not only experience pain, but also isolation, lack of contact etc. By using a model of neonatal pain in conjunction with maternal separation, we are better able to understand serious implications of the NICU experience in humans and thereby produce better treatment options as we move into exploring biological underpinnings of neonatal trauma.”
In regards to the results of the study Dr. Burman said, “ this [the results] represents an important final characterization of the effects of different types of neonatal trauma on later responsiveness to trauma and pain sensitivity. “We now have a good understanding of what neonatal trauma does to later behavior and are ready to start investigating the underlying biological mechanisms as we seek new treatment and prevention strategies”
Funding for this research was provided by NIGMS P20GM103643 (Meng PI), and NICHD/NIGMS 1R15HD091841 (Burman PI)
