A neuroimaging study of toddlers exposed to physical or emotional abuse within the past 6 months reported that children who suffered more severe maltreatment tended to have lower total brain volume. This was primarily due to smaller gray matter volume and was associated with lower cognitive abilities. The paper was published in Neurobiology of Stress. Childhood maltreatment refers to various forms of abuse and neglect experienced by children under the age of 18. It encompasses physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as physical and emotional neglect. Physical abuse involves inflicting p…