Overall, the results presented give a clear and consistent view of the neurological abnormalities present in victims of PTSD. The results were also heavily supported by corresponding research as seen in table 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The four main structures, which form the neural circuitry of stress, involved in PTSD neurological changes (hippocampus, PFC, insular lobe and amygdala) have been investigated structurally and functionally to assess how these abnormalities affect the workings of the brain.
The hippocampus is a crucial structure in the development, effects and continuation of PTSD. The results have shown a statistically significant reduction in volume bilaterally, across all studies. The results also depicted hypo-responsiveness …show more content…
The amygdala processes emotions and fear responses so when a sufferer of PTSD has sensory input relative to their initial trauma (i.e. sounds, photographs) the amygdala over reacts inhibiting a fearful response in the person. A study has shown this response can still occur even if the subject is visualising images of others exhibiting fear. The outward behaviour amygdala hyper activity is predicted to cause includes hyperarousal and hyper vigilance (Morey, R., et al. 2012).
It is unclear whether the effect of persistent exposures to trauma causing hyperactivity would cause the amygdala to further decrease in volume or be even increasingly hypo responsive.
It is reported that there is a link between the hippocampus and the amygdala. The hippocampus “facilitates appropriate responses to environmental stimuli” (Wlassof, V. 2015), then the hippocampus inhibits the amygdala to respond if necessary. The PFC regulates the emotional response that is given by coordinating the amygdala response. Hence when the hippocampus and PFC is functioning in a hypo responsive state the amygdala over compensates causing it to be hyper …show more content…
There were limited studies with a large enough number of participants to include within the results, however the four studies provide insight into the workings of the PFC relative to PTSD. They also indicated there was a negative correlation between PFC volume reduction and PTSD duration as well as the severity of the symptoms. The PFC is responsible for controlling the regulating the negative emotional responses (such as fear, anxiety, stress) activated by the amygdala, which occur when coming into contact with certain
The hippocampus is a crucial structure in the development, effects and continuation of PTSD. The results have shown a statistically significant reduction in volume bilaterally, across all studies. The results also depicted hypo-responsiveness …show more content…
The amygdala processes emotions and fear responses so when a sufferer of PTSD has sensory input relative to their initial trauma (i.e. sounds, photographs) the amygdala over reacts inhibiting a fearful response in the person. A study has shown this response can still occur even if the subject is visualising images of others exhibiting fear. The outward behaviour amygdala hyper activity is predicted to cause includes hyperarousal and hyper vigilance (Morey, R., et al. 2012).
It is unclear whether the effect of persistent exposures to trauma causing hyperactivity would cause the amygdala to further decrease in volume or be even increasingly hypo responsive.
It is reported that there is a link between the hippocampus and the amygdala. The hippocampus “facilitates appropriate responses to environmental stimuli” (Wlassof, V. 2015), then the hippocampus inhibits the amygdala to respond if necessary. The PFC regulates the emotional response that is given by coordinating the amygdala response. Hence when the hippocampus and PFC is functioning in a hypo responsive state the amygdala over compensates causing it to be hyper …show more content…
There were limited studies with a large enough number of participants to include within the results, however the four studies provide insight into the workings of the PFC relative to PTSD. They also indicated there was a negative correlation between PFC volume reduction and PTSD duration as well as the severity of the symptoms. The PFC is responsible for controlling the regulating the negative emotional responses (such as fear, anxiety, stress) activated by the amygdala, which occur when coming into contact with certain