Sharmin Ahmed

• MBBS
• Exploring the relationship between early childhood adversity, linguistics and mental health disorders

Childhood adversity is known to be a key vulnerability in the later development of mental health disorders, the biological underpinning of this isn’t understood and whilst alterations in development of brain pathways is a likely mechanism, modern-day imaging techniques are not able to show such subtle changes. Therefore more creative avenues must be explored. I will work with a psychiatrist, a neuropsychologist and a linguist to examine language use by a cohort of University students who differ in their upbringing. I will review the existing literature and work with the team to determine which linguistic parameter (fluency, syntax complexity, grammar for instance) most sensitively reveals brain function and then analyse the team’s existing data (which is available but has never been used in this way) to gain an understanding of the way that love and support impact brain development and thus protect against mental health disorders such as depression.  

Funding source: Newcastle University

Project supervisor: Professor Stuart Watson