Hypervigilance in an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder

Hypervigilance in an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder Authors: Colten Brown, Catalin V. Buhusi, Mona Buhusi Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Utah State University Abstract Post-traumatic stress disorder is a maladaptive disorder developed in response to traumatic circumstances. It is marked by hypervigilance and avoidance of triggering stimuli similar to those experienced during the previous traumatic experience. Although over half of the population is exposed to tramatic events during the lifetime, only a small proportion (7-8%) develops PTSD symptoms; only about 11-20% of combat veterans develop PTSD in a given year. Thus, genetic factors are important for vulnerability or resilience to stress. Genetically engineered mice and wild-type littermates were tested for learning and attention impairments under standard experimental conditions and after a chronic stress regimen. These results provide insight into genes that may be linked to the vulnerability to stress and PTSD. Cite as follows: Brown C, Buhusi CV, Buhusi M (2017) Hypervigilance in an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Student Research Symposium 2017. Utah State University, Logan, Utah. April 13, 2017