Emotional neglect alone and in interaction with mineralocorticoid receptor genotype was associated with right amygdala reactivity. However, none of the other Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscales (emotional abuse, physical neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse) were associated with significant effects. As shown in Table 1, emotional neglect was the most endorsed subscale and contained the most variability. Virtually no sexual abuse, physical neglect, or physical abuse was reported in this sample, which may account for the lack of associations with amygdala reactivity and these variables. Moreover, the specificity of this association is not entirely surprising. Previous research on childhood adversity in both animals (e.g., maternal separation) and extreme phenotypes in humans (e.g., institutional rearing) captures experiences best approximated by emotional neglect as opposed to other forms of maltreatment assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (3, 4, 6, 7). We speculate that because emotional neglect leaves individuals with fewer support resources to buffer the negative consequences of stress and threat, it may be particularly likely to result in greater and perhaps more generalized sensitivity to threat. This speculation is consistent with data
