The brains of children are affected by family violence in the same way as combat affects soldiers, according to a study. In both cases the brain becomes increasing wary of potential threats.【M1】______ Children who suffer abuse or witness domestic violence are known to be at greater risk of anxiety and depression in late life.【M2】______ Scientists carried out magnetic resonance imaging brain scans on 20 London children with an average age of 12 who have been【M3】______ exposed to documented violence at home. All had referred to local【M4】______ social services. While in the scanner, the children were shown pictures of male or female faces with sad, calm or angry【M5】______ expressions. Their patterns of brain activity were compared with that of 23 matched children with no history of family violence.【M6】______ The children exposed to violence responded in the distinct way to【M7】______ angry faces, the study found. Their brains showed heightened activation in two regions associated with threat detection. Previous research has shown a similar pattern in the brains of soldiers exposed to violence combat situations. The scans suggest both combat veteran soldiers and children who witness violence tuning their brains to be hyper-aware of environmental danger.【M8】______ Lead author Dr Eamon McCrory, from UCLs Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, said: 'We are only now beginning to understand how child abuse influences function of the【M9】______ brains emotional systems. This research is important because it provides with our first clues as to how regions in the childs brain【M10】______ may adapt to early experiences of abuse in the home.' 【M1】