Neurobiological Foundations of Trauma Flashcards
6 cards from real CDT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Neurobiological Foundations of Trauma flashcards as text
What is dissociation as a neurobiological response to trauma?
Answer: A disconnection from thoughts, feelings, surroundings, or identity as a protective mechanism
Dissociation is the brain's protective mechanism to distance the self from overwhelming traumatic experience, often manifesting as detachment or memory gaps.
In CDT practice, why should practitioners be aware that some disability symptoms may overlap with trauma symptoms neurobiologically?
Answer: To avoid misattributing trauma responses solely to the disability itself
Many trauma symptoms — such as hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, and withdrawal — can mirror disability-related behaviors, requiring careful differential assessment.
What does 'trigger' mean in a neurobiological trauma context?
Answer: A stimulus that activates the nervous system's trauma response by resembling the original traumatic event
A trigger is any sensory, cognitive, or environmental cue that the nervous system associates with past trauma, reactivating the original stress response.
How does chronic early trauma affect the developing brain's stress response systems?
Answer: It can sensitize the stress response system, leading to lower thresholds for activation
Early chronic trauma sensitizes the HPA axis, resulting in a hair-trigger stress response that can persist into adulthood.
Which body-based therapy approach is consistent with neurobiological trauma principles and used in CDT-informed work?
Answer: Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing, developed by Peter Levine, works with the body's trauma-held energy and is grounded in neurobiological understanding of the stress response.
Why is co-regulation neurobiologically important in trauma-informed care for individuals with disabilities?
Answer: A calm practitioner's regulated nervous system can help stabilize a dysregulated client's nervous system
Co-regulation leverages the nervous system's social engagement capacity — humans can regulate each other through attunement, calm presence, and safety cues.