CTC CTC Neurobiology of Trauma & Brain Development 2

Question 1

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) research, originally conducted by Felitti and Anda, demonstrated that higher ACE scores are correlated with:

Accepted Answer

Increased risk of chronic disease, mental illness, and early death

Answer

The landmark ACE study found a dose-response relationship between the number of adverse childhood experiences and negative lifelong health outcomes.

Question 2

Which concept describes the process by which trauma-related memories become encoded without full narrative context, often stored as sensory fragments?

Accepted Answer

Implicit procedural memory encoding

Answer

During trauma, the hippocampus is often inhibited, causing memories to be stored implicitly as body sensations and images rather than coherent narratives.

Question 3

The 'freeze' response in children experiencing trauma is regulated primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Dorsal vagal shutdown causing immobility and dissociation

Answer

The dorsal vagal complex triggers immobilization and dissociation when a child perceives escape is impossible, representing the most primitive survival response.

Question 4

Toxic stress in early childhood differs from tolerable stress primarily because:

Accepted Answer

It lacks the buffering presence of a supportive adult relationship

Answer

Toxic stress occurs when a child faces prolonged adversity without the protective factor of a consistent, caring adult who helps regulate the stress response.

Question 5

Which neurotransmitter system, when dysregulated by early trauma, is most associated with anhedonia and reduced motivation in traumatized children?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine reward system

Answer

Chronic trauma can dysregulate the dopamine reward pathways, contributing to anhedonia, motivational deficits, and vulnerability to substance use.

(CTC) Childhood Trauma Consultant Certified Practice Test

(CTC) Childhood Trauma Consultant Certified Practice Test

CTC CTC Neurobiology of Trauma & Brain Development 2