Neurological Changes in People with PTSD Following Terrorist Attacks

Abstract

Terrorist attacks on the Western world in the last decade have made this topic a pressing issue for social scientists. The aim of this article is to explore the neurological impact of terrorism on people who, following exposure to terrorist attacks, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compare this with other traumas, and see if this information could be used to the benefit of victims of terrorism. Three important brain areas seem to be involved in the development and maintenance of PTSD in terrorism victims. These are the amygdala, the frontal cortex, and the hippocampus. Differences between PTSD resulting from exposure to terrorist attacks and other traumas can relate to the variables of chronicity, proximity, and context. These differences, in combination with knowledge of fear conditioning and the consolidation process, can be examined in both experimental and clinical settings.