CARDIAC AND ELECTRODERMAL RESPONSES TO THREAT STIMULI IN HUMANS: MODULATION BY CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE HISTORY

Childhood is a period of life critical for brain development and is sensitive to environmental influences, in which physiological structures and functions are still developing. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant problem worldwide, and has been associated with significant negative lifelong consequences for physical and mental health. CSA seems to alter brain development, including those involved in threat processing and defensive response implementation.