Neurobiology of Trauma Exam 3 Review

Flashcards for Modules 8-10 in BMD-404, Neurobiology of Trauma

Trauma

Emotional or physical injury that changes brain and body

Acute Trauma

Trauma from a single overwhelming event

Chronic Trauma

Repeated trauma over time such as ongoing abuse

Complex Trauma

Multiple or prolonged traumatic events especially in childhood

Developmental Trauma

Trauma in childhood affecting brain development and attachment

Psychological Trauma

Emotional injury that affects functioning and coping

Physical Trauma

Physical injury to the body

Blunt Force Trauma

Force hitting body causing internal or external injury

Penetrating Trauma

Object entering body and creating open wound

Amygdala

Brain fear center storing emotional trauma memories

Hippocampus

Memory region giving context and timeline to experiences

Hypothalamus

Regulates survival functions like stress hormones

HPA Axis

Stress system involving hypothalamus pituitary adrenal glands

Adrenal Glands

Release cortisol and adrenaline during stress

Cortisol

Hormone released in stress increasing alertness energy and glucose

Adrenaline

Hormone increasing heart rate energy and vigilance

Fight, Flight, or Freeze

Automatic survival response system

Fight Response

Active defense against danger

Flight Response

Escaping or avoiding threat

Freeze Response

Immobilization when unable to escape threat

Fawn Response

Appeasing to reduce danger or avoid conflict

Hypervigilance

Constant scanning for danger

Hyperarousal

Heightened anxiety anger and startle response

Hypoarousal

Shutdown numbness emotional blunting or dissociation

Dissociation

Detaching from body thoughts emotions or surroundings

Flashback

Reliving traumatic memory as if happening now

Emotional Flashback

Strong emotion triggered without clear memory

Intrusive Thoughts

Unwanted trauma thoughts entering awareness

Somatic Memory

Trauma stored in body as sensations or tension

Somatization

Emotional distress showing as physical symptoms

Alexithymia

Difficulty identifying or describing feelings

Numbing

Loss of emotional or physical sensation

Derealization

Feeling environment is unreal

Depersonalization

Feeling disconnected from oneself or body

Threat Perception

Brain detecting danger automatically

Neuroception

Automatic sensing of safety or threat

Window of Tolerance

Range where nervous system can function well

Trigger

Cue that activates trauma memory or body reaction

Grounding

Techniques to return to present moment

Coping Skills

Strategies for managing distress

Self Regulation

Ability to manage one’s own emotions and body state

Dysregulation

Inability to control emotions or impulses

Co-Regulation

Regulating through safe connection with another

Attachment

Emotional bond between person and caregiver

Secure Attachment

Child feels safe seen soothed supported

Insecure Attachment

Caregiver inconsistent leaving child anxious or avoidant

Disorganized Attachment

Caregiver frightening leading to fear confusion and dysregulation

Attachment System

Brain wiring for connection and safety

Attunement

Matching and responding to emotional needs

Misattunement

Emotional disconnect from caregiver

Secure Base

Caregiver viewed as source of safety for exploration

Separation Distress

Distress when caregiver is unavailable

Internal Working Model

Beliefs about self others and world from early care

Childhood Neglect

Lack of emotional or physical care damaging development

Emotional Neglect

Caregiver fails to respond emotionally

Betrayal Trauma

Harm by someone trusted

Childhood Abuse

Harm to child physically emotionally or sexually

Accommodation Syndrome

Child adjusts to abuse through silence and self blame

Self Blame

Belief trauma is one's fault

Shame

Feeling unworthy or defective

Guilt

Feeling responsible for harm or failure

Toxic Stress

Chronic stress harming brain and body

the ACE Study

Childhood trauma linked to adult illness and mental health issues

Resilience

Ability to recover from stress and hardship

Survival Brain

Primitive brain reacting automatically to danger

Emotional Brain

Limbic system processing emotions and memories

Rational Brain

Prefrontal cortex for logic control and decision making

Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Area regulating emotional responses

dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)

Brain area tracking time planning and memory

Broca’s Area

Language area shutting down during traumatic recall

Posterior Insula function

Processes bodily sensations

Anterior Insula function

Processes emotional meaning of sensations

Mirror Neurons

Cells allowing empathy and imitation

Oxytocin

Bonding hormone increasing trust and connection

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter regulating mood sleep and anxiety

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter involved in motivation and reward

Norepinephrine

Stress neurotransmitter increasing alertness

GABA

Main inhibitory calming neurotransmitter

Glutamate

Main excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning

Neuroplasticity

Brain ability to change reorganize and grow

Neurogenesis

Creation of new neurons

Synapse

Connection between neurons

Synaptic Pruning

Elimination of unused neural connections

Myelination

Insulation increasing nerve signal speed

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary body functions

Sympathetic System

Activates fight or flight

Parasympathetic System

Rest and digest, feed and breed system

Vagus Nerve

Nerve regulating safety and calm states

Ventral Vagal State

Social engagement and connection state

Dorsal Vagal State

Shutdown freeze state

Startle Reflex

Quick response to unexpected stimuli

Sleep Disturbance

Common trauma symptom affecting rest and dreaming

Rumination

Repetitive thinking about distressing events

Hyperfocus

Fixating on threat or danger

Time Distortion in Trauma

Feeling past trauma as present

Control Seeking

Trying to feel safe through control

Perfectionism

Trauma response to avoid criticism or danger

People Pleasing

Meeting others’ needs to avoid threat

Withdrawal

Disconnecting from others for safety

Aggression

Defense reaction from trauma stress