🧠 PTSD Fear-Memory & Amygdala Simulator

The Amygdala Over-Encodes a Fear Memory

Placeholder — trauma imprints an unusually strong, sensory-linked fear memory.

• Threat tag: Amygdala role (placeholder detail)
• Cortisol ↑: Stress hormones (placeholder detail)
• Sensory-bound: Memory type (placeholder detail)
• High: Encoding strength (placeholder detail)

Fear memory encoding

Placeholder — amygdala binds sounds, smells, sights to threat.

Why encoding is so strong

Placeholder — stress hormones amplify consolidation of the memory.

Prefrontal Cortex Regulation — Normally Present, Impaired in PTSD

Placeholder — PFC should contextualize and dampen fear memories over time.

• Top-down control: PFC role (placeholder detail)
• Extinction: Normal outcome (placeholder detail)
• Impaired: PTSD outcome (placeholder detail)
• vmPFC: Key region (placeholder detail)

Regulatory pathway

Placeholder — PFC sends inhibitory signals to the amygdala.

Impairment in PTSD

Placeholder — weakened connectivity blunts this dampening signal.

An Environmental Cue Resembling the Trauma Appears

Placeholder — a minor, trauma-resembling cue is encountered later.

• Sensory match: Cue type (placeholder detail)
• Low: Objective threat (placeholder detail)
• Generalized: Pattern match (placeholder detail)
• Rapid: Detection speed (placeholder detail)

Cue generalization

Placeholder — similar-enough cues re-activate the stored memory.

Rapid threat detection

Placeholder — amygdala flags the cue before conscious appraisal.

Amygdala Hyperactivates, Prefrontal Dampening Fails

Placeholder — response magnitude exceeds the actual current threat.

• Amplified: Amygdala response (placeholder detail)
• Insufficient: PFC dampening (placeholder detail)
• Disproportionate: Response fit (placeholder detail)
• Hyperarousal: Physiology (placeholder detail)

Disproportionate surge

Placeholder — small cue, outsized amygdala output.

Failed top-down brake

Placeholder — weak PFC signal cannot offset the surge.

Flashback and Hyperarousal from a Minor Cue

Placeholder — unregulated, overgeneralized fear memory drives the reaction.

• Flashback: Symptom (placeholder detail)
• Elevated: Arousal state (placeholder detail)
• Mismatched: Trigger-response fit (placeholder detail)
• Restore PFC: Treatment goal (placeholder detail)

Reaction outsizes the cue

Placeholder — reaction reflects stored trauma, not current risk.

Placeholder — restoring PFC regulation is a core treatment goal.