Work

Early life threat and caregiver-related fear learning in early childhood

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Across species, caregivers regulate offspring fear learning and expression of conditioned fear responses. Rodent studies additionally demonstrate that pups exposed to rough maternal care show disruptions in this adaptive learning mechanism. An analogous experience, early life threat (i.e., interpersonal violence), is strongly associated with developmental outcomes in children. However, we do not understand the extent to which early life threat is associated with fear learning in the context of caregivers in children, although this may be an important mechanism shaping development. The present study utilized data from 219 children who completed a novel fear learning paradigm, in which conditioned fear responses to caregivers and strangers were measured using skin conductance responses. First, we show that children show differential skin conductance responses to stranger stimuli, but not to caregiver stimuli. Second, we find subtle associations between early life threat and conditioned fear responses to caregiver stimuli. Specifically, early life threat was associated with small increases in skin conductance responses to the caregiver-safety cue compared to the caregiver-threat cue. These data show similarities with the rodent literature and identify a potential mechanism by which early life threat may shape child development.

Source: Neurobiology of Stress

DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2026.100859