Most individuals understand the dangerous effects that physical and psychological abuse can have on children. Low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, personality disorder and even death are among the many complications that can arise, according to the Mayo Clinic.

A collection of new findings, which were recently presented at the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting, Neuroscience 2012, reveal evidence of the harmful impact trauma can have on people from infancy onward.

Based on new human and animal studies, researchers found that abuse during early childhood could realign communication within the areas of victims' brains that are related to body control. This, in turn, increases the odds that they will develop mental health problems.

Additional research found that children who grow up in poverty may experience changes to their working memory and ability to pay attention later in life.

"While we are becoming fully aware, in general, of the devastating impact that early life adversity has on the developing brain, today's findings reveal specific changes in targeted brain regions and the long-lasting nature of these alterations," said Bruce McEwen of The Rockefeller University, who served as press conference moderator at the event.

With this research in mind, parents may be concerned about their children's cognitive development if they were exposed to stress early in life. The results of an IQ test for kids can provide parents with a sense of their children's intellectual abilities.