Neurobiology of PTSD outlines the basic neural mechanisms that mediate complex responses and adaptations to psychological trauma; describes how these biological processes are impaired in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and discusses how the environmental exposure to trauma interacts with the brain to create the syndrome of PTSD.

Originally published by Viking Penguin, 2014.

Born out of the excitement of a convergence of ideas and passions, this book provides a synthesis of the work of researchers, clinicians, and theoreticians who are leaders in the field of trauma, attachment, and psychotherapy. As we move into the third millennium, the field of mental health is in an exciting position to bring together diverse ideas from a range of disciplines that illuminate our understanding of human experience: neurobiology, developmental psychology, traumatology, and systems theory. The contributors emphasize the ways in which the social environment, including relationships of childhood, adulthood, and the treatment milieu change aspects of the structure of the brain and ultimately alter the mind.

This book presents the latest state of knowledge on grey matter changes in the brain following stress and trauma. Where do these changes take place and what are the underlying molecular mechanisms? These questions are addressed in several sections, providing detailed insights into the cellular and molecular alterations that occur in the brain after stress and trauma. The changes to the grey matter in certain areas of the brain are similar in stressed humans and animals, with the most likely basis for these changes being the degeneration of synaptic connections. In the book’s first sections the reader will learn about the core network of synaptic connections that are affected by stress and trauma disorders. These synaptic connections are modulated by dopamine, serotonin and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). In subsequent chapters, the NMDA-receptor mediated plasticity of these synapses is discussed, with particular attention given to how glucocorticoids can interfere with the function of BDNF and thereby affect the synapse’s physical stability. Furthermore, the reader will learn about the importance of the genetics of the glucocorticoid gene and the epigenetic control of BDNF in connection with synaptic plasticity. The authors conclude by integrating the observations summarized in the previous sections so as to present plausible hypotheses regarding the identity of the networks, synapses and molecular pathways that support fear and extinction. Providing an up-to-date overview of the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and physiological changes in the stressed and traumatized brain, this book will appeal to researchers, clinicians and students in the neurosciences. M. R. Bennett AO is an internationally renowned neuroscientist. He is a professor of Neuroscience & University Chair at the University of Sydney, the founding director of the ‘Brain and Mind Research Institute’ and has been the president and organizer of many societies and symposia. His research has led to groundbreaking revelations in understanding synaptic functioning. He is the author of numerous papers and books, including ‘Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience’ (2003 with Peter Hacker) and the recent works ‘Virginia Woolf and Neuropsychiatry’ (2013), ‘History of Cognitive Neuroscience (2008 with Peter Hacker) and ‘Neuroscience and Philosophy: Brain, Mind and Language (2006 with Daniel Dennett, John Searle and Peter Hacker). Prof. Bennett has received the leading award in biology and medicine in Australia (the Macfarlane Burnet Medal) as well as being made an ‘Office of the Order of Australia’ for his outstanding ‘service to the biological sciences, particularly in the field of neurosciences’. Professor J. Lagopoulos is the inaugural director of the Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience – Thompson Institute, which focuses on mental health and neurological research, clinical services and teaching. He is an expert in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and has been involved in neuroimaging for over 20 years. His work focuses on youth mental health, post-traumatic stress disorders, traumatic brain injury and healthy brain ageing and dementia. Prof. Lagopoulos is a leading academic and medical specialist who has published more than 170 peer-reviewed papers and contributed to several books. He is member of numerous international societies, including the ‘International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine’ and the ‘Organization of Human Brain Mapping’. He has received several awards, including the ‘Westmead Foundation Prize’.

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#1 New York Times bestseller “Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times bestseller Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

Born out of the excitement of a convergence of ideas and passions, this book provides a synthesis of the work of researchers, clinicians, and theoreticians who are leaders in the field of trauma, attachment, and psychotherapy. As we move into the third millennium, the field of mental health is in an exciting position to bring together diverse ideas from a range of disciplines that illuminate our understanding of human experience: neurobiology, developmental psychology, traumatology, and systems theory. The contributors emphasize the ways in which the social environment, including relationships of childhood, adulthood, and the treatment milieu change aspects of the structure of the brain and ultimately alter the mind.