title: Neural communication in posttraumatic growth.
abstract: Posttraumatic growth (PTG), or positive psychological changes following exposure to traumatic events, is commonly reported among trauma survivors. In the present study, we examined neural correlates of PTG in 106 veterans with PTSD and 193 veteran controls using task-free magnetoencephalography (MEG), diagnostic interviews and measures of PTG, and traumatic event exposure. Global synchronous neural interactions (SNIs) were significantly modulated downward with increasing PTG scores in controls (p = .005), but not in veterans with PTSD (p = .601). This effect was primarily characterized by negative slopes in local neural networks, was strongest in the medial prefrontal cortex, and was much stronger and more extensive in the control than the PTSD group. The present study complements previous research highlighting the role of neural adaptation in healthy functioning.
authors.affiliation: Brain Sciences Center (11B), Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Anders
authors.forename: Carly K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engdahl
authors.forename: Arthur C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leuthold
authors.forename: Apostolos P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans