Neurobiology of Early Trauma

Cortex

hear
Thalamus Amygdala
see Senses Hippocampus
Danger
smell evaluator and detector
gatekeeper
touch
Fast Pathway
taste
Purpose is to receive DANGER DETECTED
Dangerous and connect sensory
situation Purpose is to to
experience receive
higher
and connect sensory
parts of the brain. Signals Hyperthalamus to turn
experience to higher on Autonomic Nervous System.

Firstly, attempt to engage help from other people.

Autonomic Sympathetic 1. Social Engagement However, are unable to deal with threat at stage 1
Firstly because people are a source of fear.
Nervous Nervous System
System 2. Fight-Flight Readies body to react to threat. Shuts down all
unnecessary processes - including the hippocampus
(which stores and consolidates memory).
Parasympathetic
Nervous System 3. Freeze-Submission In situations of extreme terror & powerlessness
drop to third stage. Includes dissociative states.

Jay Welly 1