CTC CTC Neurobiology of Trauma & Brain Development

Question 1

Which brain region is primarily responsible for processing fear responses and is often hyperactivated in traumatized children?

Accepted Answer

Amygdala

Answer

Prefrontal cortex

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Broca's area

Question 2

The term 'window of tolerance' in trauma neuroscience refers to:

Accepted Answer

The optimal zone of arousal in which a child can process experiences effectively

Answer

The age range most vulnerable to adverse childhood experiences

Answer

The time frame for effective trauma intervention after an event

Answer

The span of memory recall available to trauma survivors

Question 3

Which stress hormone, when chronically elevated in traumatized children, can suppress immune function and impair hippocampal memory consolidation?

Accepted Answer

Cortisol

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Oxytocin

Question 4

Polyvagal theory, developed by Stephen Porges, emphasizes the role of the __________ in social engagement and trauma response.

Accepted Answer

Parasympathetic vagal pathways

Answer

Sympathetic nervous system only

Answer

Somatic motor cortex

Answer

Basal ganglia

Question 5

Neuroplasticity in the context of childhood trauma treatment most importantly means:

Accepted Answer

The brain retains the capacity to form new neural pathways through therapeutic experiences

Answer

The brain cannot change after traumatic experiences

Answer

Trauma permanently reduces brain volume with no recovery possible

Answer

Only pharmaceutical intervention can alter trauma-affected neural circuits

Question 6

In traumatized children, the prefrontal cortex is often described as 'going offline' because:

Accepted Answer

High stress hormones temporarily impair its regulatory and reasoning functions

Answer

It matures after age 25 and is not yet developed in children

Answer

It is the least blood-perfused region during normal development

Answer

Trauma causes permanent lesions in prefrontal gray matter