title: Brain-imaging studies of posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Brain-imaging studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have rapidly increased in recent years. Structural studies have identified potential smaller volumes of the hippocampus of traumatized and/or PTSD subjects. Functional activation studies have implicated hyperactive or altered functioning of brain regions, such as the amygdala and the insula, and a failure to engage emotional regulatory structures, such as the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. Recent neurochemical investigations have suggested that neuromodulatory systems (eg, gamma-aminobutyric acid, micro-opioid) may underlie these aberrant brain activation patterns. This article reviews the literature on structural, functional, and neurochemical brain-imaging studies of PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liberzon
authors.forename: K Luan
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Phan
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents