The Effects of Exercise on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Exercise is Medicine EPHE 441 Connor Willis

PTSD PTSD is characterized as an event that threatens the physical integrity of oneself or others and induces a response of intense fear and helplessness (Pitman et al., 2012) Symptoms include: terrifying flashbacks to the event, nightmares, impaired social functioning, and a heightened sympathetic neural activation to stress (Pitman et al., 2012). http://www.militarycounselingcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/PTSDbrain1.jpg

Physiological changes There are physiological changes to three main areas of the brain; these include the prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala and the hippocampus (Pitman et al., 2012). http://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/25631/fnint-06-00036-HTML/image_m/fnint-06-00036-g006.jpg

Hippocampus Controversy Whether the Hippocampus is genetically smaller, predisposing individuals to PTSD Enhanced sympathetic nervous system causes the loss of branching of neurons in the hippocampus and an inhibition of neurogenesis (Bremner et al., 2008).

Hippocampus The Hippocampus is involved in reading contextual cues in the environment to help a safety response and modulating contextual fear conditioning, however in individuals with PTSD this ability is inhibited (Rainnie & Ressler, 2009).

Prefrontal Cortex Anterior cingulate cortex and Prefrontal cortex show reduction in gray matter and neuronal density in individuals in post combat study. Thus showing that these are acquired features of PTSD rather than a pre-existing vulnerability (Pitman et al, 2012). PFC ability to inhibit the fear response of the amygdala is affected The volume of the Prefrontal cortex can increase with aerobic exercise (Kramer & Erickson., 2007). http://equine-ati.com/images/brain-1.jpg

Amygdala Due to the breakdown of the cingulate bundulum the PFC is insufficient at inhibiting the amygdala’s fear response and conditioning of fear responses. The activity in the amygdala increases, leading to heightened fear activation.

Effects of Exercise After a 10 week exercise program individual with PTSD showed significant decreases in their symptoms (Manger & Motta., 2005). Also showed an increase in symptoms when individuals discontinued exercising for a month (Newton & Motta., 2007). http://www.sanantoniomag.com/images/cache/cache_9/cache_9/cache_f/26_ITL_MilitaryCity-PTSD_DavidSenior-a47e0f99.jpeg?ver=1456760578&aspectratio=0.75

Effects of Exercise Exercise has a direct impact on the symptoms of PTSD due to the increase in new neurons within the hippocampus (Praag, 2008). It has been hypothesized by Praag, (2008), that the effects of running on mood and cognition may be benefited by the neurogenesis of the Hippocampus. http://www.veteransunnatons.org/sites/default/files/field/image/fighting-ptsd-2.jpg

Questions?

References Bremner, J. D., Elzinga, B., Schmahl, C., & Vermetten, E. (2007). Structural and functional plasticity of the human brain in posttraumatic stress disorder. Progress in brain research, 167, 171-186. Kramer, A. F., & Erickson, K. I. (2007). Capitalizing on cortical plasticity: influence of physical activity on cognition and brain function. Trends in cognitive sciences, 11(8), 342-348. Manger, T. A., & Motta, R. W. (2005). The impact of an exercise program on posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. International journal of emergency mental health. Newman, C. L., & Motta, R. W. (2007). The effects of aerobic exercise on childhood PTSD, anxiety, and depression. International journal of emergency mental health, 9(2), 133. Pitman, R. K., Rasmusson, A. M., Koenen, K. C., Shin, L. M., Orr, S. P., Gilbertson, M. W., & Liberzon, I. (2012). Biological studies of post-traumatic stress disorder. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 13(11), 769-787. Rainnie, D. G., & Ressler, K. J. (2009). Physiology of the Amygdala: Implications for PTSD. In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (pp. 39-78). Humana Press. Van Praag, H. (2008). Neurogenesis and exercise: past and future directions. Neuromolecular medicine, 10(2), 128-140.