A child comes into the world with many needs. In the hands of his parents he slowly learns the world and develops the skills that will make him exist one day independent of any kind of help.

It is a process that takes a lot of time and even more patience. And parents take on this difficult role with this challenge: To be patient and handle everything that comes up with composure.

Sometimes, fatigue, the burden of responsibility and stress rob parents of this quality of composure. Sometimes, as people too, they lose their patience, bend and lash out. The tone of the voice rises and the tone becomes fierce. They fight the children shouting.

Most people know that voices scare and stress children. According to dr. Aldrich Chan, neuropsychologist and founder of the Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness (CNC) in Miami, however, this is not all that children suffer from voices. And maybe when parents learn the full range of effects they’re having on their children’s health, they’ll think twice the next time they feel the need to speak up.

What happens in the brain of a child who experiences verbal and psychological violence?

  • Cortisol levels rise

Children experience intense anxiety when the parent yells. When the stress response is triggered, cortisol is released in many areas of the brain that are negatively affected by this chemical process. Available scientific evidence shows that stress works negatively for a developing brain.

  • He loses the ability to think rationally

Among the areas of the brain affected by cortisol secretion is the prefrontal cortex, an area responsible for rational thinking, decision-making and emotional regulation. “The prefrontal cortex can be inhibited or become less active in moments of high stress, such as when a parent yells at their child,” says Dr. Chan, adding that this suspension “can impair a child’s ability to think rationally and make logical decisions». In other words, if you yell at your child for doing something stupid, you may actually be further impairing their ability to think and act wisely.

The expert emphasizes that if the voices are a permanent tactic of the parent, it can, over time, change the structure of the brain and lead to long-term changes in its development. A 2021 study published in Chronic Stress found that inhibiting activity in the prefrontal cortex leads to changes that can translate into cognitive impairment.

  • His memory is deteriorating

However, it is not only the prefrontal cortex that is affected when we yell at our children. “Repeated exposure to voices can negatively affect an area of ​​the brain crucial for learning and memory and impair the ability to form new memories and retrieve existing ones“, points out Dr. Chan. A 2006 study from the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences describes this brain region as adaptive and particularly vulnerable to cortisol: “Structural plasticity in response to repeated stress begins as an adaptive and protective response, but results in damage if the imbalance in the regulation of key mediators is not resolved». In addition, children’s brains have increased plasticity due to the fact that they are still developing at a rapid rate. Thus, the effects of chronic stress from voices may be even more pronounced.

  • He is at risk of a mood disorder

An area of ​​the brain responsible for the production of serotonin, a mood-determining chemical, is also affected by cortisol secretion. A related 2010 study published in the Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience showed that stress has a negative effect on serotonin neurotransmission. “Voices can affect the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, as excessive stress and the release of cortisol affect the regulation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is important for mood regulation“, explains the expert. And while parents may believe that yelling will improve a child’s behavior, when mood regulation “suffers,” it’s natural for behavior to follow suit.

In conclusion, raised voice tactics can lead to a wide range of real-life consequences for children, including emotional instability, difficulty establishing trusting relationships, increased aggression, disobedience and impulsivity, as well as attention issues, concludes Dr. Chan, adding that “these changes are not necessarily permanent, but may require intervention and support to moderate».