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Cited by 72Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMemory Processes and InfluencesMemory and Neural Mechanisms

The aftermath of 9/11: Effect of intensity and recency of trauma on outcome.

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Ganzel, Barbara, Casey, B. J., Glover, Gary, Voss, Henning U., Temple, Elise·2007·Emotion
DOI 10.1037/1528-3542.7.2.227PMC PMC2759706
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Abstract

Does trauma exposure have a long-term impact on the brain and behavior of healthy individuals? The authors used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess the impact of proximity to the disaster of September 11, 2001, on amygdala function in 22 healthy adults. More than three years after the terrorist attacks, bilateral amygdala activity in response to viewing fearful faces compared to calm ones was higher in people who were within 1.5 miles of the World Trade Center on 9/11, relative to those who were living more than 200 miles away (all were living in the New York metropolitan area at time of scan). This activity mediated the relationship between group status and current symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. In turn, the effect of group status on both amygdala activation (fearful vs. calm faces) and current symptoms was statistically explained by time since worst trauma in lifetime and intensity of worst trauma, as indicated by reported symptoms at time of the trauma. These data are consistent with a model of heightened amygdala reactivity following high-intensity trauma exposure, with relatively slow recovery.

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  • More than three years after 9/11, individuals who were within 1.5 miles of the disaster had higher amygdala reactivity than those who were over 200 miles away.

    “More than three years after 9/11, individuals who were within 1.5 miles of the disaster had higher amygdala reactivity than those who were over 200 miles away.”

    From The impact of developmental timing for stress and recovery (2015) · cites this paper as Ganzel et al., 2007

  • The association between proximity and amygdala activation was accounted for by the time since the last worst trauma.

    “Notably, the association between proximity and amygdala activation was accounted for by the time since the last worst trauma.”

    From The impact of developmental timing for stress and recovery (2015) · cites this paper as Ganzel et al., 2007

  • The amygdala might be particularly sensitive to stress and therefore more resistant to recovery following chronic stress.

    “Due to its cellular properties, the amygdala might be particularly sensitive to stress (Plotsky et al., 2005, Sabatini et al., 2007; reviewed in Tottenham and Sheridan, 2009) and therefore more resistant to recovery following chronic stress (Ganzel et al., 2007, Lupien et al., 2011, Malter Cohen et al., 2013a, Malter Cohen et al., 2013b).”

    From The impact of developmental timing for stress and recovery (2015) · cites this paper as Ganzel et al., 2007, Lupien et al., 2011, Malter Cohen et al., 2013a, Malter Cohen et al., 2013b

  • Increased amygdala volume and functional reactivity, smaller hippocampal volume, and altered prefrontal function and connectivity have been observed in humans following stress.

    “Parallel findings of increased amygdala volume and functional reactivity, smaller hippocampal volume, and altered prefrontal function and connectivity have been observed in humans following stress (Ganzel et al., 2007, Ganzel et al., 2008, Liston et al., 2006, Liston et al., 2009; Sheridan et al., 2012a, Sheridan et al., 2012b).”

    From The impact of developmental timing for stress and recovery (2015) · cites this paper as Ganzel et al., 2007

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Ganzel, B., Casey, B. J., Glover, G., Voss, H. U., & Temple, E.
Affiliations
Citigroup (US)
ORCID
Venue
Emotion
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2007
Volume
7
Issue
2
Pages
227-238
ISSN
  • 1528-3542 (ISSN-L)
  • 1931-1516
DOI
10.1037/1528-3542.7.2.227
PMC
PMC2759706
OpenAlex
W2163291497
Cited by
72
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
FWCI
7.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Emotion (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (MH68139-01A2)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
September 11 attacks, trauma exposure, amygdala reactivity, post-traumatic stress disorder, fear of terrorism, time since trauma, World Trade Center
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Arousal, District of Columbia, Dominance, Cerebral, Facial Expression, Fear, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neuronal Plasticity, New York City, Mental Recall, Reference Values, Risk Factors, Social Environment, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, September 11 Terrorist Attacks

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