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Review
. 2011;13(3):346-51.
doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2011.13.2/ksamuelson.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and declarative memory functioning: a review

Kristin W Samuelson  1
Affiliations
Review

Post-traumatic stress disorder and declarative memory functioning: a review

Kristin W Samuelson. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011.

Abstract
in English, Spanish, French

Declarative memory dysfunction is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This paper reviews this literature and presents two frameworks to explain the nature of this dysfunction: that memory deficits are a product of neurobiological abnormalities caused by PTSD and/or that pre-existing memory deficits serve as a risk factor for the development of PTSD following trauma exposure. Brain regions implicated in declarative memory deficits include the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and imaging and biochemistry studies as they relate to memory dysfunction are described. Prospective and twin studies provide support for a risk factor model.

La disfunción de la memoria declarativa se asocia con el trastorno por estrés postraumático (TEPT), Este artículo revisa la literatura y presenta dos propuestas para explicar la naturaleza de esta disfunción: que los déficit de memoria son producto de anormalidades causadas por el TEPT ylo que los déficit de memoria preexistentes constituyen un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de un TEPT a continuación de la exposición a un trauma. El hipocampo y la corteza prefrontal son las regiones cerebrales que participan en los déficit de memoria declarativa. Se describen los estudios de imágenes y bioquímicos que se han realizado y la manera en que ellos se relacionan con la disfunción de memoria. Los estudios prospectivos y de gemelos proporcionan apoyo para un modelo de factor de riesgo.

L'état de stress post-traumatique (ESPT) s'associe à un trouble de la mémoire déclarative. Cet article analyse la littérature et présente deux grands axes pour expliquer la nature de ce trouble: tout d'abord, ces déficits mnésiques résultent d'anomalies dues à l'ESPT, de plus, la préexistence de déficits mnésiques jouent le rôle de facteur de risque de développement de l'ESPT après exposition à un traumatisme. L'hippocampe et le cortex préfrontal sont les régions cérébrales impliquées dans les déficits de mémoire déclarative. Nous décrivons ici les études de biochimie et d'imagerie liées au trouble mnésique, les études prospectives et de jumeaux servant de base à un modèle de facteur de risque.

Keywords: PTSD; hippocampus; neuropsychology; trauma; verbal memory.

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