40
3.2 Trauma and the brain
Aim . To understand how children respond to traumatic experiences .
KEY TO KNOW
Human beings ( and animals ) developed very early during the evolution an alarm system that assisted them to survive . These basic physical responses to danger occur below consciousness and are controlled by an ancient part of the brain located in the amygdala ( the watch dog ). They enable the body to react to danger before you have even started to think about what is happening . These physical reactions can respond in as little as 1 / 100 of a second and are automatic ‘ survival reactions ’ are ways we react to dangerous or overwhelming situations that can be understood as ‘ strategies ’ designed to help us survive . The main reactions or survival ‘ strategies ’ that human beings display when faced with life-threatening events are :
• Fight
• Flight
• Freeze (‘ Playing dead ’/ submission )
When a traumatic event occurs that threatens life , we cease to process events in the usual way . We no longer store our emotions , feelings , and perceptions of the situation in the cerebrum , as we usually do , but process them at a ‘ deeper ’ level . This can produce the ‘ primitive ’ defence responses mentioned above .
It is said that traumas affect an adult brain but organise how the child brain is structured .
The human brain is very complex , and researchers are still discovering new aspects in its functions , especially about how different networks in the brain collaborate . A good metaphor of how the brain works that is often used in the trauma field is “ the triune brain ”. It is used to describe the connection between brain functions and trauma reactions .
The brain is hierarchically built , first – the “ Old brain ” - the survival brain – the brainstem with all the automatic activities like respiration , heartbeat , bodily sensations . Secondly the “ Mid brain ” - the feeling brain – the limbic system with hippocampus where our memories are stored with connected emotions . In the limbic system amygdala ; when encountered with danger , elicits the fight , flight or freeze reactions . The “ New brain ” – thinking brain , is the area in the brain that is developed last , and is the neocortex , where our abilities to reflect , think , and plan are centred .
In this model of the brain it is emphasized that the three parts of the brain are connected , meaning networks transport information from the brainstem through the limbic system and then to neocortex for evaluation , then back to the limbic system and the brainstem . When trauma reactions are present , the connections between the three parts of the brain are not working efficiently , so the hypersensitive alarm reactions can fire without feedback systems “ calling off ” the danger .
When trying to help a child who has been sexually abused , we should bear this in mind ; we need to address activities in the old brain , in the brainstem . We need to work with the breathing and the muscle tonus in order to help the child calm down or being awakened from a state of numbness . We need to address the mid brain , the limbic area , to build trust and address the emotions and find an entrance into the child ’ s memory . Additionally , we need to address the new brain , the neocortex in order to understand and correct the way a child has giving meaning to the traumatic event .