The Impact of Trauma on Behavior and Brain Development Flashcards

Chronic exposure to trauma can lead to an overactive amygdala. How does this typically manifest in a child's behavior?

Answer: A persistent state of fear and hypervigilance

The amygdala is the brain's threat detection center. Trauma can make it hypersensitive, causing a child to be in a constant state of 'high alert' and react with a fight, flight, or freeze response to perceived, even minor, threats.

A child who experienced neglect is now hoarding food in their room, even though meals are plentiful. This behavior is best understood as:

Answer: A pain-based behavior rooted in past experiences

This is a pain-based behavior directly linked to the child's past trauma of not having enough food. The behavior, while maladaptive now, was once a survival skill, and understanding this origin is key to a therapeutic response.

What is the primary goal of a trauma-informed approach within the TCI system?

Answer: To create an environment of physical and psychological safety

The foundational goal of any trauma-informed system is to counteract the effects of trauma by creating an environment where children feel physically and psychologically safe. This sense of safety is a prerequisite for learning, healing, and developing trusting relationships.

Trauma re-enactment occurs when a child:

Answer: Unconsciously behaves in a way that replicates past trauma

Trauma re-enactment is an unconscious process where a child recreates dynamics or situations that mimic their original trauma. This is not a conscious choice but an attempt by the brain to process and gain mastery over the overwhelming past experience.

The part of the brain responsible for executive functions like planning, impulse control, and reasoning, which can be underdeveloped by trauma, is the:

Answer: Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for higher-order thinking and emotional regulation. Chronic stress and trauma can impair its development, leading to difficulties with impulse control, decision-making, and understanding consequences.

A child with a history of trauma may misinterpret a caregiver's neutral facial expression as angry or threatening. This is due to:

Answer: Hypervigilance

Hypervigilance is a state of enhanced sensory sensitivity and being on constant alert for danger. A history of trauma can train the brain to scan for threats everywhere, leading to misinterpretation of neutral social cues as hostile.