In other articles, we've looked at the devastating effects of childhood emotional abuse on the adult survivor's self-esteem.
The design of the human brain explains how and why we respond to trauma the way we do; a look at certain key parts of our brains will help us understand the effects of childhood emotional abuse on our long-term emotional well being.
The brain stem is the lowest portion of the brain.
It controls basic functions like circulation, respiration, and digestion.
Simpler animals such as reptiles (though not the very simplest animals, like jellyfish) have a brain stem.
Occasionally a human baby is born with only a brain stem; these babies have no awareness of their existence and, if born alive, will live only hours, days, or weeks.
The reticular activating system (RAS) is just above the brain stem and is believed to be the center of arousal and motivation in mammals (including humans).
It helps animals make instantaneous decisions such as "Should I be afraid of that other animal?" The limbic system, according to Dictionary(dot)reference, is "A group of interconnected structures of the brain including the hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus that are located beneath the cortex, are common to all mammals, and are associated with emotions such as fear and pleasure, memory, motivation, and various autonomic functions.
" Humans, mammals, and birds have a limbic system, which is where emotional and social bonding takes place.
Lower animals, such as fish, reptiles, and amphibians, have none; these creatures give birth to young who are ready to take of themselves.
The cerebral cortex is a region that all mammals have; it controls higher brain functions such as thought and consciousness.
The main difference between human and animal brains is that most (non-human) mammals have little or no prefrontal cortex.
This region is associated with complex thinking, decision-making, personality, and social behavior-the orchestration of thoughts and actions toward goals.
Because of the design of our brains, all higher animals, including humans, have an instinct for emotional and social bonding, a natural tendency to nurture their children.
(Lizard parents are as likely to eat their children as to simply ignore them.
) Infants deprived of love, physical contact, and nurturing often suffer irreversible mental and emotional damage-even death.
People caring for infants in NICUs know this.
Whereas babies born prematurely or with other health problems traditionally have been considered too fragile to touch, studies are being done to examine the healing effects of touch, handling, and massage on these babies.
Kids in orphanages (especially in third-world countries, and particularly those with special needs), where there simply isn't enough adult attention to go around, often grow up emotionally, psychologically, intellectually, and physically impaired.
The importance of human touch during our formative years cannot be overstated.