PTSD PTSD Neurobiology & Physiological Responses 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which brain region shows reduced activity in PTSD, contributing to difficulty regulating emotional responses?
- Amygdala
- Brain stem
- Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (Correct answer)
- Basal ganglia
Correct answer: Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
Hypoactivation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reduces top-down inhibition of the amygdala, impairing emotional regulation.
Question 2: How does chronic PTSD affect the default mode network (DMN)?
- The DMN is overactivated and well-integrated
- The DMN shows altered connectivity associated with intrusive symptoms and self-referential rumination (Correct answer)
- The DMN is completely suppressed in PTSD
- The DMN shows no changes in PTSD neuroimaging studies
Correct answer: The DMN shows altered connectivity associated with intrusive symptoms and self-referential rumination
Disrupted DMN connectivity in PTSD is linked to intrusive memories, self-referential processing disturbances, and rumination.
Question 3: What physical symptom related to autonomic dysregulation is commonly measured in PTSD research?
- Reduced pupil dilation
- Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) (Correct answer)
- Increased vagal tone
- Stable respiratory rate
Correct answer: Decreased heart rate variability (HRV)
Decreased HRV reflects impaired parasympathetic regulation and is a reliable biomarker of autonomic dysfunction in PTSD.
Question 4: Which inflammatory process has been increasingly linked to PTSD symptom severity?
- Reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels
- Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α (Correct answer)
- Decreased C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Anti-inflammatory cytokine elevation
Correct answer: Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α
Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with PTSD severity and may contribute to depression, sleep disturbance, and cognitive impairment.
Question 5: What is the significance of the insula in PTSD symptomatology?
- It exclusively regulates motor function
- It processes interoceptive signals and is hyperactive in PTSD, contributing to somatic symptoms (Correct answer)
- It has no established role in PTSD
- It suppresses amygdala reactivity
Correct answer: It processes interoceptive signals and is hyperactive in PTSD, contributing to somatic symptoms
Insula hyperactivation in PTSD contributes to heightened body-based threat awareness, somatic complaints, and emotional dysregulation.
Question 6: Which sleep-related physiological disturbance is most characteristic of PTSD?
- Increased slow-wave sleep
- REM sleep dysregulation including nightmares and REM fragmentation (Correct answer)
- Hypersomnia with excessive deep sleep
- Absent sleep disturbances
Correct answer: REM sleep dysregulation including nightmares and REM fragmentation
PTSD is strongly associated with REM sleep dysregulation, manifesting as trauma-related nightmares and fragmented REM cycles affecting memory consolidation.
PTSD PTSD Neurobiology & Physiological Responses 2
Which brain region shows reduced activity in PTSD, contributing to difficulty regulating emotional responses?