Neural Correlates of Traumatic Memories in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Functional MRI Investigation

Abstract

The neuronal circuitry underlying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was studied in traumatized subjects with and without PTSD. Traumatized subjects with (N=9) and without (N=9) PTSD were studied by using the script-driven symptom provocation paradigm adapted to functional magnetic resonance imaging at a 4-T field strength. PTSD subjects showed significantly less activation of the thalamus, the anterior cingulate gyrus (Brodmann's area 32), and the medial frontal gyrus (Brodmann's area 10/11) than did the comparison subjects. The findings suggest anterior cingulate, frontal, and thalamic involvement in the neuronal circuitry underlying PTSD.