Summary: New neuroimaging research shows that child neglect, even when it occurs without physical or emotional abuse, can change key brain pathways. The study found white matter differences in regions linked to movement, attention, language, and emotional regulation, and those changes were associated with conduct and behavioral difficulties. These objective neural markers could improve early detection and inform policies, interventions, and supports for at-risk children.
Neglect is an often-overlooked form of maltreatment that leaves few visible scars but can profoundly influence development. By identifying specific alterations in brain microstructure, this study points to measurable effects of neglect and suggests new directions for prevention and treatment.
Key Facts
- Most common form of maltreatment: Neglect accounts for roughly three in four substantiated child abuse cases worldwide.
- White matter alterations: Abnormalities were detected in neural tracts involved in motor control, attention and executive function, language, and emotion regulation.
- Policy and practice implications: The findings could help reshape child protection strategies, screening practices, and targeted intervention programs.
Source: University of Fukui
Neglect often goes unseen
When people think of child abuse, they commonly imagine physical harm or overt emotional cruelty. Yet neglect—the failure to meet a child’s basic needs such as food, shelter, supervision, or safety—is the most prevalent form of maltreatment. Because it leaves few visible marks and can produce subtle or delayed behavioral signs, neglect frequently escapes detection by caregivers, educators, and clinicians.
Despite clear links to poor mental health and developmental setbacks, scientific study of neglect’s specific effects on the developing brain has been limited. To fill this gap, researchers at the Research Center for Child Mental Development at the University of Fukui used advanced diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine white matter microstructure in children who experienced neglect but not other forms of abuse.
The study, led by Professor Akemi Tomoda and published in Volume 15 of Scientific Reports on July 26, 2025, compared 21 children with documented neglect (and no other maltreatment) to 106 typically developing controls. Using whole-brain DTI analysis, the team focused on subtle changes in white matter that reflect how brain regions communicate and develop.
Neglected children showed greater axial diffusivity (AD) in three major white matter pathways: the right corticospinal tract, the right superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the left cingulum. The right corticospinal tract is essential for voluntary movement and motor coordination; the right superior longitudinal fasciculus supports attention, language, and higher-order executive functions; and the left cingulum links emotional and cognitive systems, playing an important role in self-regulation and emotional processing.
Importantly, higher AD in these tracts was associated with conduct problems and behavioral difficulties in the neglected group. In other words, the white matter differences corresponded with measurable psychosocial problems, supporting the idea that neglect alone can alter neurodevelopment in ways that relate to observable behavior.
“Our results indicate that neglect by itself can leave measurable marks on brain architecture,” says Dr. Tomoda. “These neuroimaging markers may help identify children affected by neglect before severe problems emerge and could serve as objective measures to monitor interventions.”
The study’s findings have practical implications. Objective brain-based indicators could complement behavioral screening, enabling earlier identification and more precise intervention. Understanding which neural circuits are affected by neglect can also guide development of therapies and educational supports tailored to the specific cognitive, motor, and emotional challenges these children face.
By recognizing neglect as a distinct and impactful form of childhood adversity, this research underscores the need for improved detection, prevention, and support systems. Additional studies are needed to track how these white matter changes evolve over time and how effective interventions may normalize development. Still, the current results provide a crucial step toward evidence-based strategies that better protect and rehabilitate vulnerable children.
Funding Information
This research was supported by a range of grants, including JSPS KAKENHI Early-Career Scientists [22K13677], Fostering Joint International Research [22KK0218], Challenging Exploratory Research [21K18499], AMED [JP20gk0110052], JSPS KAKENHI Scientific Research (A) [19H00617], JST/RISTEX, Japan-United States Brain Research Cooperative Program, Strategic Budget to Realize University Missions (FY 2022), JSPS KAKENHI Scientific Research (B) [23K25644], Scientific Research (C) [21K02352], and Advanced Bioimaging Support (ABiS) [JP22H04926].
About this child neglect and neurodevelopment research news
Author: Yuuka Kawamoto
Source: University of Fukui
Contact: Yuuka Kawamoto – University of Fukui
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“White matter microstructure abnormalities in children experiencing neglect without other forms of maltreatment” by Akemi Tomoda et al., Scientific Reports.
Abstract
White matter microstructure abnormalities in children experiencing neglect without other forms of maltreatment
Childhood maltreatment can interrupt normal brain development, increasing vulnerability in white matter microstructure and raising the risk of psychiatric and developmental problems. While neglect is the most common form of maltreatment, its specific neurobiological impact is less well understood. This study used diffusion tensor imaging to compare white matter microstructure between neglected children (n = 21) and typically developing controls (n = 106), and to examine links between these neural measures and psychosocial problems. Neglected children showed elevated axial diffusivity in the right corticospinal tract, right superior longitudinal fasciculus, and left cingulum. Higher axial diffusivity in these regions correlated with greater conduct problems, indicating that white matter alterations may contribute to behavioral symptoms seen in children who experience neglect.