Diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation during the recollection of stressful events is an acquired characteristic of PTSD
Open accessAbstract
Background: Previous research has shown relatively diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation and heightened psychophysiological responses during the recollection of personal events in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the origin of these abnormalities is unknown. Twin studies provide the opportunity to determine whether such abnormalities reflect familial vulnerabilities, result from trauma exposure, or are acquired characteristics of PTSD. Methods: In this case–control twin study, 26 male identical twin pairs (12 PTSD; 14 non-PTSD) discordant for PTSD and combat exposure recalled and imagined trauma-unrelated stressful and neutral life events using a standard script-driven imagery paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging and concurrent skin conductance measurement. Results: Diminished activation in the medial prefrontal cortex during Stressful v. Neutral script-driven imagery was observed in the individuals with PTSD, relative to other groups. Conclusions: Diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation during Stressful v. Neutral script-driven imagery may be an acquired characteristic of PTSD. If replicated, this finding could be used prospectively to inform diagnosis and the assessment of treatment response.
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In a case-control twin study with 26 male identical twin pairs discordant for PTSD and combat, script-driven imagery fMRI revealed diminished activation in the mPFC during stressful versus neutral imagery in PTSD patients relative to others.
“For example, in a case-control twin study with 26 male identical twin pairs (12 PTSD; 14 non-PTSD) discordant for PTSD and combat, script-driven imagery fMRI revealed diminished activation in the mPFC during stressful versus neutral imagery in PTSD patients relative to others [161].”
From Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and threat processing: implications for PTSD (2022) · cites this paper as [161]
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“Furthermore, PTSD symptom severity has been found to be inversely correlated with mPFC activation during SDI in some (Osuch et al. 2001; Shin et al. 2004), but not all (Lanius et al. 2002; Gold et al. 2011) studies.”
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Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and threat processing: implications for PTSD
Alexandra Kredlow, M., Fenster, R. J., Laurent, E. S., Ressler, K. J., & Phelps, E. A. (2022) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/s41386-021-01155-7 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
“For example, in a case-control twin study with 26 male identical twin pairs (12 PTSD; 14 non-PTSD) discordant for PTSD and combat, script-driven imagery fMRI revealed diminished activation in the mPFC during stressful versus neutral imagery in PTSD patients relative to others [161].”
BackgroundReviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD
Krediet, E., Bostoen, T., Breeksema, J., van Schagen, A., Passie, T., & Vermetten, E. (2020) · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyaa018 · Cited by 260 · see citing works
- Authors
- Dahlgren, M. K., Laifer, L. M., VanElzakker, M. B., Offringa, R., Hughes, K. C., Staples-Bradley, L. K., Dubois, S. J., Lasko, N. B., Hinojosa, C. A., Orr, S. P., Pitman, R. K., & Shin, L. M.
- Affiliations
- Tufts University (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- University of New England (US)
- Corresponding author
- Shin, L. M.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2017-09-12
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1128-1138
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- PMC
- PMC5847462
- OpenAlex
- W2754884703
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 5.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000170, UL1TR001102)
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH054636)
- National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR025758, P41RR014075)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, medial prefrontal cortex, script-driven imagery, combat exposure, stress response, skin conductance
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Humans, Imagination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Mental Recall, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, United States, Veterans, Case-Control Studies, Prefrontal Cortex
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