TTC Neurobiological Effects of Trauma 3

Question 1

Hippocampal volume reduction in trauma survivors is primarily linked to which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Glucocorticoid-mediated neurotoxicity and reduced neurogenesis

Answer

Chronic glucocorticoid exposure causes dendritic atrophy and inhibits neurogenesis in the hippocampus, reducing its volume.

Question 2

What role does the prefrontal cortex (PFC) play in the trauma response?

Accepted Answer

Exerts top-down inhibitory control over the amygdala

Answer

The medial prefrontal cortex provides top-down inhibitory regulation of amygdala activity, a function impaired in PTSD.

Question 3

The 'fear extinction' process is primarily mediated by which brain circuit?

Accepted Answer

Ventromedial PFC projections to the amygdala

Answer

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex projections to the amygdala mediate extinction learning by inhibiting conditioned fear responses.

Question 4

Which finding best explains why trauma survivors struggle to contextualize traumatic memories as past events?

Accepted Answer

Hippocampal dysfunction impairs contextual and temporal encoding

Answer

Hippocampal dysfunction during and after trauma impairs the contextual and temporal tagging of memories, leaving them feeling present-tense.

Question 5

Broca's area deactivation during trauma recall, observed in neuroimaging studies, is associated with which symptom?

Accepted Answer

Difficulty verbalizing traumatic experiences

Answer

Deactivation of Broca's area during trauma recall helps explain why survivors often struggle to articulate traumatic experiences in words.

(TTC) Trauma Treatment Certification Practice Test