Brain

Brain's Response to Threat.

  • The prime directive of the brain is to promote survival and procreation.
  • The cognitive, emotional, social, behavioral and physiological residue of a trauma may impact an individual for a lifetime.
  • In order for any experience, traumatic or not, to become part of memory, it must be "sensed", perceived by the individual.


"Sensing"

  • A cascade of activity is initiated in the primitive areas, which moves "up" for review in other areas. This allows the individual to act in a near-reflexive fashion to survive well before the information is interpreted by the cortex.
  • A complex pattern of sensory brain cell activity associated with a specific visual image, or specific smell or sound make connections with networks in these levels of the brain.

"Sensing" Information

  • The five senses transform forms of energy from the external world (light, sound, etc.) into patterned activity of sensory neurons.
  • The first "stop" of this input is the lower, survival oriented brainstem and midbrain.
  • This input is matched against previously stored patterns and, if unknown, or if associated with previous trauma, begins an alarm response.

So, What is Produced?

  • Neuronal systems alter themselves in a "use-dependent" way in response to repetitive activation in this diverse set of brain systems resulting in a set of patterns of neuronal networks solidly in place.
  • We call these solid patterns of input MEMORIES.

SURVIVAL

  • These "state" memories, memories of previous patterns of sensory input which were connected with bad experience - produce an automatic response for survival.
  • For example: Sight ? Sound ? Smell of something that "reminds" the brain of previous threat will elicit an immediate fight or flight response, without thinking.

Memories/Behavior

  • In persons exposed to chronic abuse, neglect or trauma early in life, they will have little insight of how the anxiety, impulsivity, social and emotional distress they suffer are related to the brain's creation of "memories" during previous traumatic experiences.