Final answer:
Increased activity in brain areas involved with the control and inhibition of traumatic memories has been linked with the experience of disorders such as post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), in which recollection creates disability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Increased activity in brain areas involved with the control and inhibition of traumatic memories has been linked with the experience of disorders such as post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), in which recollection creates disability. PTSD is a mental health disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is characterized by intrusive and distressing memories of the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of the event, negative changes in mood and cognition, and heightened arousal.
In individuals with PTSD, the brain areas involved in memory, such as the hippocampus and amygdala, may have altered activity. The hippocampus plays a key role in encoding and retrieving memories, while the amygdala is involved in processing emotions, especially fear and anxiety. When a traumatic event occurs, it can lead to an overactive amygdala and impaired functioning of the hippocampus.
Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the control and inhibition of traumatic memories is important for developing treatments for disorders like PTSD. Research has shown that certain therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), can help individuals with PTSD learn to better regulate their emotions and reduce the impact of traumatic memories on their daily lives.