Yogyakarta – A research team from the Behavioral Neuroscience Research Group and the Mental Processes and Behavior Laboratory at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), is conducting a systematic literature review on the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on brain inhibitory control. The review draws on evidence from electroencephalography (EEG) paradigms and is funded by the 2026 Faculty of Psychology UGM Research Grant.
The study, entitled The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Inhibitory Control through Electroencephalography (EEG) Paradigms: A Systematic Literature Review, is led by Satwika Rahapsari, S.Psi., M.A., Ph.D. The team members include Anjuni Khofifah Hanifi, S.Psi., M.Sc., from the Behavioral Neuroscience Research Group, and Maria Gracia Amara Pawitra, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psikolog, from the Clinical Psychology Research Group. The study also involves undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students.
What Are ACEs?
ACEs encompass various stressful or traumatic experiences during early development, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Numerous studies have linked ACEs to an increased risk of psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In recent years, scientists have also focused on their effects on brain development and cognitive functioning.
One cognitive-psychological function that may be affected is inhibitory control, the ability to suppress automatic or irrelevant responses so that behavior remains directed toward a goal. This ability underlies self-regulation, decision-making, and everyday adaptive functioning. “Although ACEs and cognition have been widely studied, research integrating ACEs, inhibitory control, and EEG-based indicators remains limited.” This knowledge gap provides the starting point for the study.
To date, most research on the effects of ACEs on cognitive functioning has relied on behavioral measures, such as accuracy and reaction time in Go/No-Go or Stroop tasks, or on neuroimaging techniques with lower temporal resolution, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Behavioral measures only capture the final outcome of a process, meaning that two individuals with similar performance may rely on different neural mechanisms. Meanwhile, fMRI is effective at identifying the location of brain activity but is less sensitive to the rapid neural dynamics involved in detecting conflict and inhibiting responses.
EEG helps address this gap by recording brain activity at the millisecond scale. Event-related potential (ERP) components, such as N2 and P3, can indicate the stages of inhibitory processing that may be altered in individuals with a history of ACEs. In addition, EEG is relatively affordable, non-invasive, and portable, making it a potentially useful tool for developing risk biomarkers for children and adolescents in both clinical and educational settings. By systematically synthesizing EEG findings, this review is expected to identify consistent neural patterns and provide a foundation for mechanism-based early interventions.
Examining the Brain in Milliseconds
EEG records the brain’s electrical activity with very high temporal resolution at the millisecond scale. Through event-related potential (ERP) analysis, researchers can examine brain-wave components such as N2 and P3, which are associated with conflict detection, response monitoring, and motor inhibition. This study aims to synthesize empirical evidence on the relationship between ACEs and inhibitory control, identify consistent EEG-based neurophysiological markers associated with ACE exposure, explain the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this relationship.
The team has developed a research protocol based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The literature search covers Scopus, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Where feasible, the data will be analyzed using a three-level random-effects meta-analysis in R.
Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Understanding the neurobiological signatures of ACEs can help support the development of mechanism-based early interventions, prevention strategies, and risk markers useful in clinical settings, thereby promoting mental health throughout the lifespan. SDG 4: Quality Education. Inhibitory control plays an important role in attention and self-regulation among children and adolescents in learning environments. The findings are expected to contribute to neuroscience-based learning strategies that are more responsive to students’ adverse experiences. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, particularly Target 16.2 on ending violence against children. By demonstrating the tangible effects of violence and neglect on brain functioning, this research strengthens the scientific basis for child protection efforts.
Expected Outcomes and Future Directions
The study aims to publish its findings in a reputable international journal ranked at least Q3, with manuscript submission planned for January 2027. It also builds on the team’s previous research into the effects of ACEs on cognitive control, including a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies published in Trauma, Violence, & Abuse (2025), entitled The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Cognitive Control Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies.
Through this follow-up study, the UGM Faculty of Psychology hopes to strengthen the scientific evidence on how adverse childhood experiences shape the brain and behavior, while providing a foundation for more targeted prevention and intervention efforts for children and adolescents in Indonesia.
Writer and photo: Mental Processes and Behavior Laboratory