What is a common outcome of excessive stress in children?

Excessive stress in children can lead to underdevelopment of neurons in the brain, particularly in regions that are crucial for learning, memory, and emotional regulation, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. When children experience chronic stress, it can disrupt the normal development of neural connectivity, leading to difficulties in cognitive functioning and emotional responses. This underdevelopment can have long-term implications, affecting their ability to learn and interact socially, and may contribute to behavioral issues and mental health challenges in the future. This highlights the importance of providing supportive environments that can mitigate stress and promote healthy brain development in children.