5508 Neurophysiology of Trauma and Psychotherapy Flashcards
(34 cards)
What role does the thalamus play in trauma?
Mediates the interaction between attention and arousal.
High levels of arousal during trauma will lead to altered processing by the thalamus. This dysregulation can lead to memory problems and can lead to flashbacks, nightmares, avoidances, and dissociation
What is linked to many mental disorders regarding the cerebellum?
Reduced size of cerebella vermis
What does the locus coeruleus produce when activated by stress?
Norepinephrine and activates sympathoadrenalmedullary axis and HPA axis.
during acute stress if unchecked can lead to many mental health and physical issues (fear, intrusive memories, hypertension, migraine, asthma, etc
What is the primary function of the hippocampus?
Memory, reality testing, and inhibition of the amygdala. Allows a coherent narrative about personal hx. Necessary for forming explicit memories.
What does the amygdala organize?
Emotional experiences and tells the hippocampus what is important to learn. Also mediates the crisis response and powerful emotions such as anger, fear, and rage
What does the hypothalamus communicate with during stress?
The endocrine system. During stress there is a cascade of responses which have an impact on the autonomic, endocrine, and immune systems
Which part of the brain is responsible for organizing experiences?
Cerebral cortex
What is the role of the Orbital Medial Prefrontal Cortex (OMPC)?
Inhibitory function in response to stress and regulates planning behavior
What happens to the anterior cingulate in PTSD?
Its size is smaller. It is considered the last step before consciousness and services as the gatekeeper of emotion
What does the insula connect?
Body states to the expression and experience of emotions, so that we are aware of what is happening inside our bodies and can reflect on emotional experiences.
What is the corpus callosum?
A group of long neural fibers connecting the right and left hemispheres. Early stress impacts this connectivity and integration.
What is allostasis?
The adaptive physiological response to acute stress
Fill in the blank: Allostatic load from chronic stress can cause _______.
neuronal death
What does kindling explain in relation to untreated mental illness?
How it can cause someone to become more treatment resistant
What brain changes does kindling affect?
how a person responds to different stressors.
What do endogenous opioids do for a person with trauma?
Temporarily soothe them
What does dissociation provide during trauma?
A sense of derealization and depersonalization
What does Polyvagal Theory (PVT) suggest about the nervous system?
It determines how safe and connected we feel leading to either disconnection or social engagement.
What is the focus of Adaptive Information Processing Theory?
How the brain processes and links memories, emotions, and sensory information
What does EMDR stand for?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, it is a form of behavioral and exposure therapy
What are the 3 phases of EMDR?
- desensitization (visualizes trauma, verbalize negative impact while maintaining the rhythmic eye movements and then instructed to block the negative thoughts.
- Installation (increase positive thoughts to replace negative ones),
- body scan (visualize the trauma with a body scan while being in tune with the positive thoughts.
What is the last area of the brain to develop?
Cerebral cortex
What is neuroplasticity?
The brain’s ability to change in response to the environment
Fill in the blank: Unused neural pathways are eliminated through a process called _______.
pruning
