A Network-Based Neurobiological Model of PTSD: Evidence From Structural and Functional Neuroimaging Studies

Overview

Journal Curr Psychiatry Rep

Publisher Current Science

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2017 Sep 20

PMID 28924828

Citations 146

Authors

Teddy J Akiki

Christopher L Averill

Chadi G Abdallah

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Although a fine-grained understanding of the neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is yet to be elucidated, the last two decades have seen a rapid growth in the study of PTSD using neuroimaging techniques. The current review summarizes important findings from functional and structural neuroimaging studies of PTSD, by primarily focusing on their relevance towards an emerging network-based neurobiological model of the disorder.

Recent Findings: PTSD may be characterized by a weakly connected and hypoactive default mode network (DMN) and central executive network (CEN) that are putatively destabilized by an overactive and hyperconnected salience network (SN), which appears to have a low threshold for perceived saliency, and inefficient DMN-CEN modulation. There is considerable evidence for large-scale functional and structural network dysfunction in PTSD. Nevertheless, several limitations and gaps in the literature need to be addressed in future research.

Citing Articles

Can Electroencephalography-Based Neurofeedback Treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder? A Meta-analysis Study.

Matsuyanagi K Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2025; .

PMID: 40072792 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-025-09701-5.

Connectome-Based Predictive Modeling of PTSD Development Among Recent Trauma Survivors.

Ben-Zion Z, Simon A, Rosenblatt M, Korem N, Duek O, Liberzon I JAMA Netw Open. 2025; 8(3):e250331.

PMID: 40063028 PMC: 11894499. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0331.

Traumatic stress alters neural reactivity to visual stimulation.

Harnett N, Rowland G, Webb E, Li T, Joshi S, Ressler K Res Sq. 2025; .

PMID: 39989978 PMC: 11844653. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5627085/v1.

Alpha-frequency stimulation strengthens coupling between temporal fluctuations in alpha oscillation power and default mode network connectivity.

Ma Y, Brown J, Chen C, Ding M, Wu W, Li W bioRxiv. 2025; .

PMID: 39975132 PMC: 11838283. DOI: 10.1101/2025.01.27.635137.

Shared and distinct morphometric similarity network abnormalities in generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder.

Tan G, Yuan M, Li L, Zhu H, Lui S, Qiu C BMC Psychiatry. 2025; 25(1):5.

PMID: 39748330 PMC: 11697831. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06460-1.

References

Nicholson A, Densmore M, Frewen P, Theberge J, Neufeld R, McKinnon M . The Dissociative Subtype of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Unique Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Basolateral and Centromedial Amygdala Complexes. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2015; 40(10):2317-26. PMC: 4538346. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.79. View

Nardo D, Hogberg G, Looi J, Larsson S, Hallstrom T, Pagani M . Gray matter density in limbic and paralimbic cortices is associated with trauma load and EMDR outcome in PTSD patients. J Psychiatr Res. 2009; 44(7):477-85. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2009.10.014. View

ODoherty D, Chitty K, Saddiqui S, Bennett M, Lagopoulos J . A systematic review and meta-analysis of magnetic resonance imaging measurement of structural volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychiatry Res. 2015; 232(1):1-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.01.002. View

Akiki T, Averill C, Wrocklage K, Schweinsburg B, Scott J, Martini B . The Association of PTSD Symptom Severity with Localized Hippocampus and Amygdala Abnormalities. Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks). 2017; 1. PMC: 5562232. DOI: 10.1177/2470547017724069. View

Li L, Lei D, Li L, Huang X, Suo X, Xiao F . White Matter Abnormalities in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Following a Specific Traumatic Event. EBioMedicine. 2016; 4:176-83. PMC: 4776058. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.01.012. View

Sripada R, King A, Welsh R, Garfinkel S, Wang X, Sripada C . Neural dysregulation in posttraumatic stress disorder: evidence for disrupted equilibrium between salience and default mode brain networks. Psychosom Med. 2012; 74(9):904-11. PMC: 3498527. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e318273bf33. View

Meng L, Jiang J, Jin C, Liu J, Zhao Y, Wang W . Trauma-specific Grey Matter Alterations in PTSD. Sci Rep. 2016; 6:33748. PMC: 5030628. DOI: 10.1038/srep33748. View

Wang Z, Neylan T, Mueller S, Lenoci M, Truran D, Marmar C . Magnetic resonance imaging of hippocampal subfields in posttraumatic stress disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010; 67(3):296-303. PMC: 2848481. DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.205. View

Kessler R, Berglund P, Demler O, Jin R, Merikangas K, Walters E . Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005; 62(6):593-602. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593. View

10.

Wang T, Liu J, Zhang J, Zhan W, Li L, Wu M . Altered resting-state functional activity in posttraumatic stress disorder: A quantitative meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2016; 6:27131. PMC: 4890007. DOI: 10.1038/srep27131. View

11.

Fani N, King T, Jovanovic T, Glover E, Bradley B, Choi K . White matter integrity in highly traumatized adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012; 37(12):2740-6. PMC: 3473340. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2012.146. View

12.

Fani N, King T, Shin J, Srivastava A, Brewster R, Jovanovic T . STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER: ASSOCIATIONS WITH FKBP5. Depress Anxiety. 2016; 33(4):300-7. PMC: 4983452. DOI: 10.1002/da.22483. View

13.

Cisler J, Steele J, Smitherman S, Lenow J, Kilts C . Neural processing correlates of assaultive violence exposure and PTSD symptoms during implicit threat processing: a network-level analysis among adolescent girls. Psychiatry Res. 2013; 214(3):238-46. PMC: 3852193. DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2013.06.003. View

14.

Shin L, Liberzon I . The neurocircuitry of fear, stress, and anxiety disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2009; 35(1):169-91. PMC: 3055419. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2009.83. View

15.

Bryant R, Felmingham K, Whitford T, Kemp A, Hughes G, Peduto A . Rostral anterior cingulate volume predicts treatment response to cognitive-behavioural therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2008; 33(2):142-6. PMC: 2265310. View

16.

Geuze E, Westenberg H, Heinecke A, de Kloet C, Goebel R, Vermetten E . Thinner prefrontal cortex in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Neuroimage. 2008; 41(3):675-81. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.03.007. View

17.

Nilsen A, Hilland E, Kogstad N, Heir T, Hauff E, Lien L . Right temporal cortical hypertrophy in resilience to trauma: an MRI study. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2016; 7:31314. PMC: 5055608. DOI: 10.3402/ejpt.v7.31314. View

18.

Woodward S, Schaer M, Kaloupek D, Cediel L, Eliez S . Smaller global and regional cortical volume in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009; 66(12):1373-82. DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.160. View

19.

Levy-Gigi E, Szabo C, Kelemen O, Keri S . Association among clinical response, hippocampal volume, and FKBP5 gene expression in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder receiving cognitive behavioral therapy. Biol Psychiatry. 2013; 74(11):793-800. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.05.017. View

20.

Mueller S, Ng P, Neylan T, Mackin S, Wolkowitz O, Mellon S . Evidence for disrupted gray matter structural connectivity in posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychiatry Res. 2015; 234(2):194-201. DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.09.006. View