Sheridan et al Study (development, bio)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To examine the effect institutionalization on neural structure and function, specially focusing on children who were removed from institutional care and randomized to a foster care intervention

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• Sample: approx 80 children (aged 8 - 11) in 3 different groups, CAUG (“care as usual” - institutionalized children who remained in care), FCG (institutionalized children who were placed in foster care), NIG (never-institutionalized children), all lived in Bucharest, Romania
  
  • In data analysis, CAUG and FCG often grouped together as EIG (“ever-institutionalized group”)
  • NOTE: institutionalized children are often studied as a group that represents children that have suffered from severe forms of psychological and physical neglect
• MRI scans were taken to examine structures, EEGs were also taken to examine function

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• EIG had significantly smaller cortical gray matter volume than NIG
• Cortical white matter has no difference between FCG and NIG, CAUG had significantly smaller volume
• NO differences found in subcortical structures of any group
• EIG group had less power than NIG on EEG, could be result of white matter (could explain some of the cognitive issues in children who have been neglected)
• Suggests that early neglect has a physical impact on brain development, also that white matter is more “neuroplastic” than gray matter as catch-up in white matter is evident in the children who were in foster care, but not in the gray matter

Question 4

Strengths

Answer 4

• Other studies often looks a children who have been adopted into upper-middle class families in UK or US, all children in this study remained in Bucharest

Question 5

Limitations

Answer 5

• Timing effects of foster care not controlled (different ages of children and different amounts of time in care, unclear how long they were in foster care)
• Cross-sectional design

Question 6

Ethical Considerations

Answer 6

• Approved by government (child protective services and ministry of health) along with the institutions of three principal researchers
• Protection from harm
  
  • Some left in care despite it being clear that institutionalization is detrimental for children

Question 7

Research Method

Answer 7

• Quasi-experiment or correlational research