Part of the mechanism of trauma that cannot be forgotten even if one tries to forget it due to strong shock has been identified. Academic circles paid attention to the possibility that this discovery could lead to treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In an experiment report released on its official website on the 6th, the Japan National Institute of Physiology (NIPS) said that part of the structure in which traumatic memories occur was revealed during rat experiments.
Trauma refers to negative memories that are difficult to forget due to the impact being so great. Trauma, defined as severe psychological trauma, is thought to be maintained in the frontal area of the brain, which is involved in various mental activities such as information processing and emotional control, but its detailed structure is largely hidden.
Schematic diagram of an experiment in which a microscope objective was connected to a cloud plate and a rat was placed between them. Rats that received electrical stimulation while listening to harmless sounds later showed a fearful response to just the sound. At this time, the brain structure was examined to identify part of the structure of the trauma. <사진=NIPS 공식 홈페이지>
The institute planned a rat experiment to indirectly interpret the neuronal responses of people who have experienced harsh experiences that cause trauma. First, an electron microscope to examine the brain responses of experimental rats was connected to a rotating cloud plate, and the rat was fixed between them. Afterwards, a harmless sound was played and a mild electrical stimulus was applied.
As a result, the electrical stimulation became a trigger for trauma, and the rat showed a fear response by flinching at the sound even though no electricity was flowing. The lab interpreted changes in the brain function of rats related to traumatic memories by dividing them before and after showing a fear response.
A person involved in the experiment said, “When a fear response is strong, a new neural circuit was identified in the frontal area of the rat’s brain that did not exist before the traumatic experience.” He added, “A specific group of cells in the frontal area of the rat that responded strongly when experiencing electrical stimulation is a group of cells that later respond only to sound.” “It formed a traumatic memory,” he explained.
Trauma classified as mental trauma is difficult to understand and is not fundamentally treated. <사진=영화 '컨저링' 스틸>
From these structures, the lab also found a way to identify cell groups in the frontal area of the brain that react strongly when expressing a fear response. The institute hoped that if a technology to suppress the function of cells related to trauma was developed, it might open the way to treating difficult mental illnesses such as PTSD.
An experiment official said, “Control of fear is very important for living organisms to live. Trauma memories caused by strong fear experiences resurface anytime and anywhere, causing a lot of discomfort.” He added, “It has recently been determined which part of the brain is involved in traumatic memories. “This experiment is valuable in that it has been confirmed in research, but part of the mechanism has finally been elucidated,” he emphasized.
Reporter Lee Yoon-seo lys@sputnik.kr
⇨Go to Sputnik Naver Post
⇨Go to Sputnik YouTube channel
2023-10-07 06:33:00
#Trauma #rescue #part #rat #experiment #revealed
