Background Elevated negative affect is a highly salient risk factor for later
internalizing disorders. Very little is known about the early neurobiological
correlates of negative affect and whether they associate with developmental
changes in negative emotion. Such information may prove critical for identifying
children deviating from normative developmental trajectories of negative affect and
at increased risk for later internalizing disorders. The current study examined the
relationship between amygdala activity and negative affect measured concurrently
and approximately 12-months later in preschool-age children.
Method Amygdala activity was assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging in
31 medication-naive preschool age children. Negative affect was measured using parent
report both at the time of scan and 12-months later.
Results Negative affect at baseline was positively correlated with right amygdala
activity to sad faces, right amygdala activity to happy faces, and left amygdala
activity to happy faces. Right amygdala activity to sad faces also positively predicted
parent-reported negative affect 12-months later even when negative affect reported
at baseline was controlled.
Conclusions The current findings provide preliminary evidence for amygdala
activity as a potential biomarker of persistent negative affect during early childhood
and suggest future work examining the origins and long-term implications of this
relationship is necessary.