Hippocampal Threat Reactivity Interacts with Physiological Arousal to Predict PTSD Symptoms
Büşra Tanrıverdi, David F. Gregory, Thomas M. Olino, Timothy D. Ely, Nathaniel G. Harnett, Sanne J.H. van Rooij, Lauren A. M. Lebois, Antonia V. Seligowski, Tanja Jovanović, Kerry J. Ressler, Stacey L. House, Francesca L. Beaudoin, Xinming An, Thomas C. Neylan, Gari D. Clifford, Sarah D. Linnstaedt, Laura Germine, Kenneth A. Bollen, Scott L. Rauch, John P. Haran, Alan B. Storrow, Christopher Lewandowski, Paul I. Musey, Phyllis L. Hendry, Sophia Sheikh, Christopher W. Jones, Brittany E. Punches, Michael C. Kurz, Meghan E. McGrath, Lauren A. Hudak, José L. Pascual, Mark J. Seamon, Elizabeth M. Datner, Claire Pearson, Robert M. Domeier, Niels K. Rathlev, Brian J. O’Neil, León D. Sánchez, Steven E. Bruce, Mark W. Miller, Robert H. Pietrzak, Jutta Joormann, Deanna M. Barch, Diego A. Pizzagalli, John F. Sheridan, Jordan W. Smoller, Steven E. Harte, James M. Elliott, Samuel A. McLean, Ronald C. Kessler, Karestan C. Koenen, Jennifer S. Stevens, Vishnu P. Murty
Abstract
Alterations in hippocampal function linked to threat-related arousal are reliably associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, how these alterations relate to the sequelae of trauma-related symptoms is unknown. Prior models based on nontrauma samples suggest that arousal may impact hippocampal neurophysiology leading to maladaptive behavior. Here we show that decreased hippocampal threat sensitivity interacts with fear-potentiated startle to predict PTSD symptoms. Specifically, individuals with high fear-potentiated startle and low, transient hippocampal threat sensitivity showed the greatest PTSD symptomology. These findings bridge literatures of threat-related arousal and hippocampal function to better understand PTSD risk.