Predictive processing and the varieties of psychological trauma
Open accessAbstract
A recently popular framework in the cognitive sciences takes the human nervous system to be a hierarchically arranged Bayesian prediction machine. In this paper, we examine psychological trauma through the lens of this framework. We suggest that this can help us to understand the nature of trauma, and the different effects that different kinds of trauma can have. We end by exploring synergies between our approach and current theories of PTSD, and gesture toward future directions.
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The perception of the external environment as threatening may result in a negative prediction bias in PTSD.
“this may result in a negative prediction bias (Kube et al., 2020; Linson and Fris ton, 2019; Wilkinson et al., 2017).”
From Predictive coding in neuropsychiatric disorders: a systematic transdiagnostic review. (2025) · cites this paper as Wilkinson et al., 2017
Individuals with PTSD perceive the external environment as threatening.
“individuals with PTSD perceive the external environment as threatening”
From Predictive coding in neuropsychiatric disorders: a systematic transdiagnostic review. (2025) · cites this paper as Wilkinson et al., 2017
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References 50 · Cited by 91
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Dell P. F. O’Neil J. A. (eds) (2009). Dissociation, and the Dissociative Disorders: DSM-V, and Beyond. New York, NY: Routledge/Taylor & Francis.
- Knipe J. (2008). “ Loving eyes. Procedures to therapeutically reverse dissociative processes while preserving emotional safety,” in Healing the Heart of Trauma and Dissociation with EMDR and Ego State Therapy, eds Forgash C. Copeley M. (New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company).
- Authors
- Wilkinson, S., Dodgson, G., & Meares, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
- Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Wilkinson, Sam
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2017-10-17
- Volume
- 8
- Pages
- 1840-1840
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5651022
- OpenAlex
- W2763505551
- Cited by
- 91
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust (WT108720)
- European Research Council (XSPECT - DLV-692739)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Embodied and Extended Cognition
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- predictive processing, psychological trauma, Bayesian brain, hierarchical prediction, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma outcomes
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