Neurobiology of Trauma
When someone experiences a traumatic event or experiences extreme fear, brain chemistry is altered and the brain begins to function differently--this is called the "Fear Circuity" and it is a protective mechanism which we all have inside of us. 神经生物学的 of trauma--essentially the effects of trauma on the brain--is important to understand because it helps break down common misconceptions and victim-blaming about gender-based violence and it helps survivors to understand their experience and the aftermath in 一种新的方式. We encourage you to watch the video below by Dr. 吉姆料斗 and read through the information on this page to learn more!
Neurobiology of Trauma helps to explain many of the common behaviors and experiences of survivors of gender-based violence. Having an understanding of how trauma affects the brain helps to dismantle common misconceptions and victim-blaming statements about 性暴力. Please read the 神话与事实 document below to learn more!
关键概念
的 前额叶皮层 is the decision-making/choice-making part of the brain; it's the part of the brain responsible for rational thinking, planning effective responses, remembering important 信息等. When a person is experiencing a traumatic event or experiencing 极度恐惧，他们的。”恐惧电路" may kick in and the 前额叶皮层 begins to function less effectively. 这 means that in the midst of trauma, a person may not be able to think through the situation and make decisions such as calling for help. It is not a matter of choice--their brain is in survival mode and the fear circuitry is bypassing their 前额叶皮层 完全.
Many people are familiar with the concept of "fight or flight," but research shows that there is a third response called "冻结." A common example is a deer in the headlights, and humans have this same fear response--in fact, freezing is the most common reaction to trauma or fear, rather than fighting 后退还是逃跑.
In addition to freezing, some survivors may experience extreme survival reflexes such 主音静止 or 崩溃不动. If you've ever seen a possum go limp when it is scared, you are familiar with this 大脑反应. Going limp, feeling "sleepy" or passing out, or being completely unable to move or speak are 生存机制s hard-wired into our brains--even apex predators like sharks have these responses! It is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a choice the person is making.
Survivors may also experience 离解, which is a survival reflex where someone may feel disconnected from their body or 可能会进入“自动舵”模式. In 自动舵 mode, a person is not using their 前额叶皮层 to make decisions, but is instead relying upon habitual modes of being. 习惯性的反应 are rooted in socialization--for example, women are socialized to be polite and pleasing, to "save face" or placate. 这 means that during an assault, a person might engage in sexual acts, say polite things, even smile, but they are not consenting; they are actually experiencing extreme fear and their brain is operating on 自动舵 as a 生存机制.
记忆 are encoded differently during a traumatic event. 的 brain does not encode memories in chronological order, there are gaps in memory, and whatever the "fear circuitry" in the brain focused attention on during the assault is more likely to be encoded into memory than periphery details. For example, a survivor may have a very clear memory of the smell of the perpetrator's cologne, but not have any memory of what 房间看起来像. Contextual 信息(e.g., the layout of a room) and time‐sequence 信息(e.g., the order in which sexual acts occurred) are often poorly encoded. 再一次。 this is not a conscious choice a survivor is making about what to focus on or remember during an assault; it is a common impact on the brain when the "fear circuitry" survival 反应开始了.
的se are all based in normal brain processes that occur during extremely
stressful and traumatic situations. 的y can happen to police officers, soldiers –
anyone who is attacked or fears for their life.
