CDT Neurobiological Foundations of Trauma 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which brain structure is primarily responsible for processing fear responses and plays a central role in trauma reactions?
- Amygdala (Correct answer)
- Hippocampus
- Prefrontal cortex
- Cerebellum
Correct answer: Amygdala
The amygdala detects threats and triggers the fear response, making it central to how trauma is processed and stored.
Question 2: What neurobiological phenomenon explains why trauma memories are often fragmented and lack a clear narrative?
- Hippocampal encoding disruption (Correct answer)
- Amygdala hyperactivation only
- Prefrontal cortex damage
- Cerebellar atrophy
Correct answer: Hippocampal encoding disruption
During high stress, the hippocampus — responsible for context and narrative memory — is impaired, leaving trauma memories unintegrated.
Question 3: In the context of CDT, how does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) respond during a trauma trigger in individuals with disabilities?
- It may activate fight, flight, or freeze responses (Correct answer)
- It exclusively activates the parasympathetic system
- It shuts down all sensory processing
- It increases hippocampal activity
Correct answer: It may activate fight, flight, or freeze responses
The ANS activates survival responses — fight, flight, or freeze — which can be more intense or unique in individuals with disabilities due to intersecting vulnerabilities.
Question 4: Which concept describes the body's physical encoding of traumatic stress, relevant to practitioners working with individuals with disabilities?
- Somatic memory (Correct answer)
- Cognitive reappraisal
- Neuroplasticity
- Cortical mapping
Correct answer: Somatic memory
Somatic memory refers to trauma stored in bodily sensations and muscle tension, not just conscious recollection.
Question 5: What role does cortisol play in the neurobiological response to trauma?
- It is released as a stress hormone that can impair memory consolidation if chronically elevated (Correct answer)
- It enhances serotonin production to calm the nervous system
- It exclusively activates the prefrontal cortex
- It suppresses the amygdala response
Correct answer: It is released as a stress hormone that can impair memory consolidation if chronically elevated
Chronic cortisol elevation from ongoing trauma impairs hippocampal function and disrupts healthy memory consolidation.
Question 6: How does the concept of neuroplasticity support trauma recovery for individuals with disabilities?
- The brain can form new neural pathways through therapeutic interventions (Correct answer)
- Traumatic damage to neurons is always permanent
- Neuroplasticity only applies to children under age 10
- New pathways replace all previous trauma memories
Correct answer: The brain can form new neural pathways through therapeutic interventions
Neuroplasticity means the brain retains the ability to reorganize and form new connections, which underlies the effectiveness of trauma-informed therapies.
CDT Neurobiological Foundations of Trauma 1
Which brain structure is primarily responsible for processing fear responses and plays a central role in trauma reactions?