Sinko Laura, Regier Paul, Curtin Adrian, Ayaz Hasan, Rose Childress Anna, Teitelman Anne M
Department of Nursing, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, Center for Studies of Addiction, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Womens Health (Lond). 2022 Jan-Dec;18:17455057221081326. doi: 10.1177/17455057221081326.
Women's experiences of sexual violence can be not only psychologically and physically traumatizing but may also have lasting effects on brain functions, including cognitive control relating to the inhibition and processing of emotion. Thus, the purpose of this pilot study is to explore underlying neural correlates of sexual violence's impact on cognitive control in women.
Thirty women (aged 21-30 years) participants underwent a quantitative survey along with an affect-congruent Go-NoGo task. Prefrontal activity was monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, a portable neuroimaging technology. An analysis of variance tested for main effects of the condition (Go versus NoGo), group (sexual violence versus no prior sexual violence), and potential interactions.
Fifteen of 30 women reported a history of childhood (n = 5) and/or adult (n = 12) sexual violence. Those with sexual violence histories reported significantly higher depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms, as well as increased impulsivity compared to their peers. Behavioral performance did not differ between the groups; however, functional near-infrared spectroscopy data revealed a significant (group × condition) interaction in Optodes 13 and 16. Women with histories of sexual violence had a significantly lower response during the "NoGo" condition and a heightened response during the "Go" condition, in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
These results suggest altered prefrontal cortical activity during cognitive processing in women with a history of sexual violence, showing hypoactivity during response inhibition and hyperactivity to the positive stimuli. These findings have strong translational promise for innovative assessment and prevention of untoward effects among women with sexual violence.
女性遭受性暴力的经历不仅会在心理和身体上造成创伤，还可能对大脑功能产生持久影响，包括与情绪抑制和处理相关的认知控制。因此，本初步研究的目的是探讨性暴力对女性认知控制影响的潜在神经关联。
30名年龄在21至30岁之间的女性参与者接受了定量调查以及一项情感匹配的Go-NoGo任务。使用功能性近红外光谱技术（一种便携式神经成像技术）监测前额叶活动。方差分析测试了条件（Go与NoGo）、组（性暴力与无既往性暴力史）的主效应以及潜在的相互作用。
30名女性中有15名报告有童年（n = 5）和/或成年（n = 12）性暴力史。与同龄人相比，有性暴力史的人报告的抑郁、焦虑和创伤后应激症状明显更高，冲动性也增加。两组之间的行为表现没有差异；然而，功能性近红外光谱数据显示在光极13和16处存在显著的（组×条件）相互作用。有性暴力史的女性在右侧背外侧前额叶皮层的“不执行”条件下反应明显较低，而在“执行”条件下反应增强。
这些结果表明，有性暴力史的女性在认知处理过程中前额叶皮层活动发生改变，在反应抑制期间表现为活动不足，对积极刺激表现为活动过度。这些发现对于创新性评估和预防遭受性暴力女性的不良影响具有很强的转化前景。
