Brain Structures and Trauma
What part of the brain is responsible for processing fear and emotional memories, often implicated in trauma responses?
The amygdala.
What does HPA stand for in the context of the neurobiology of trauma?
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis.
What type of memory is often fragmented and disjointed in individuals who have experienced trauma, contributing to flashbacks and intrusive memories?
Explicit memory.
What division of the nervous system is responsible for activating the fight-or-flight response?
The sympathetic nervous system.
What is neuroplasticity and why is it relevant to trauma recovery?
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections, which is key to healing from trauma as the brain can develop healthier emotional and cognitive pathways.
What brain structure is involved in storing long-term memories and can be impacted by trauma, leading to fragmented memories?
The hippocampus.
What hormone is released by the adrenal glands during the body's stress response and is often elevated in individuals with chronic trauma exposure?
Cortisol.
How does the amygdala’s role in emotional memory processing change in response to trauma?
The amygdala becomes overactive, resulting in heightened emotional responses and the consolidation of fear-related memories.
Which branch of the autonomic nervous system is associated with the body's “rest and digest” response, which is often underactive in trauma survivors?
The parasympathetic nervous system.
What type of therapeutic approach leverages neuroplasticity to help individuals reprocess traumatic memories and build new, adaptive neural pathways?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
Chronic trauma can cause shrinkage in what brain area, leading to impairments in emotional regulation and executive functioning?
The prefrontal cortex.
How does chronic activation of the HPA axis affect the body’s ability to handle future stressors?
Chronic HPA activation can lead to dysregulation of the stress response, resulting in heightened sensitivity to stress and difficulty returning to baseline after stress.
In what way does trauma impair the consolidation of episodic memory in the hippocampus?
Trauma disrupts episodic memory consolidation, leading to fragmented or incomplete memories of the traumatic event.
What is polyvagal theory, and how does it relate to trauma?
Polyvagal theory explains how the vagus nerve regulates emotional and physiological states, with trauma disrupting the ventral vagal pathway, leading to difficulties in social engagement and increased hyperarousal or dissociation.
How does mindfulness practice affect neuroplasticity in trauma survivors?
Mindfulness practice promotes neuroplasticity by enhancing connectivity in brain areas related to emotional regulation and decreasing activation in the amygdala.
What is the name of the brain structure that activates the fight-or-flight response and is often overactive in individuals with PTSD?
The hypothalamus.
Explain the feedback mechanism between the hippocampus and the HPA axis in trauma survivors.
The hippocampus helps regulate cortisol release by providing negative feedback to the HPA axis. In trauma survivors, hippocampal atrophy may impair this regulation, leading to prolonged stress responses.
What is the difference between explicit and implicit memory in the context of trauma, and which type of memory often dominates trauma recall?
Explicit memory involves conscious recall of events, while implicit memory involves unconscious, automatic responses. Implicit memory often dominates trauma recall, manifesting as physiological or emotional responses without conscious recollection.
How does chronic trauma impact the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?
Chronic trauma can result in overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and underactivation of the parasympathetic system, leading to a persistent state of hyperarousal and difficulty calming down.
How does cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) promote neuroplastic changes in trauma survivors?
CBT helps by rewiring maladaptive thought patterns, encouraging the brain to form new connections that reduce the impact of trauma triggers and foster adaptive responses.
How does the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) affect trauma responses, and what role does it play in processing emotional pain?
The ACC helps regulate emotions and cognitive control; dysfunction in this area can result in heightened emotional reactivity and difficulty regulating trauma-related distress.
What long-term effect does glucocorticoid exposure (due to chronic stress) have on the brain, particularly the hippocampus?
Prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids can lead to hippocampal atrophy, which may impair memory and emotional regulation.
How does the prefrontal cortex modulate trauma memories, and what happens to this modulation in individuals with PTSD?
The prefrontal cortex normally helps regulate emotional responses by inhibiting the amygdala, but in PTSD, this modulation is impaired, leading to exaggerated fear and emotional responses to trauma-related cues.
What role does the dorsal vagal complex play in the trauma response, particularly in dissociation?
The dorsal vagal complex mediates the body’s freeze response and can lead to dissociation in the face of overwhelming trauma, as a way to "shut down" and protect the individual from extreme stress.
In what way does trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) utilize neuroplasticity to help children recover from trauma?
TF-CBT uses a combination of exposure, cognitive restructuring, and coping strategies to strengthen new neural pathways related to safety and emotional regulation, aiding in the child’s recovery from trauma.