The document discusses a neuroscience perspective on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It identifies three key components of the brain involved in PTSD: the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. The amygdala shows high activation to traumatic stimuli. The prefrontal cortex shows less activation. The hippocampus has reduced volumes. These regions are involved in processing fear and complex negative emotions. A reduced hippocampus may be related to memory dysfunction in PTSD.

1. Smucker, Mervin (2012)
A neuroscience perspective on posttraumatic
stress disorder.
1

2. Neuroscience Research
• Brain localization of differential
emotional reactions to trauma
• How PTSD emotions are differentially
represented and changed in the
amygdala and the cortex

3. Three Key Components of the Brain
involved in PTSD
• Amygdala
– PET imaging shows high amygdala activation to traumatic vs.
neutral stimuli 1-4
• Prefrontal cortex
– LESS activation 9-12
• Hippocampus
– Reduced hippocampal volumes 5-8
1 Rauch et al., 1996; 2 Rauch et al., 2000; 3 Liberzon et al., 1999; 4 Semple et al., 2000; 5 Bremner et al., 1995; 6 Bremner et al., 1997; 7 Gurvitz et
al., 1996; 8 Stein et al., 1997; 9 Bremner et al, 1999; 10 Bremner et al., 1999; 11 Villareal and King, 2001; 12 Pitman et al., 2001

4. Limbic
Structures
(Amygdala)
Involved in the processing of
FEAR

5. Higher
Cortical
Structures
Involved in the processing of more
complex negative emotions
(e.g. guilt, shame, anger)

6. Hippocampus Highlights
• The hippocampus contextualizes fear
and regulates it on the basis of the
situation we are in (i.e. a lion in the zoo
fascinates; a lion on the street invokes
fear)

7. Reduced hippocampal volume may be related
to memory dysfunction in PTSD
Vermetten & Bremner, 2002