Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
Cingulate and hippocampal subregion abnormalities in combat-exposed veterans with PTSD
Philip R Szeszko1, Linda M Bierer1, Heather N Bader1
1Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Background:
The hippocampus and cingulate gyrus are strongly interconnected brain regions that have been implicated in the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These brain structures are comprised of functionally distinct subregions that may contribute to the expression of PTSD symptoms or associated cardio-metabolic markers, but have not been well investigated in prior studies.
Methods:
Two divisions of the cingulate cortex (i.e., rostral and caudal) and 11 hippocampal subregions were investigated in 22 male combat-exposed veterans with PTSD and 22 male trauma-exposed veteran controls (TC). Cardio-metabolic measures included cholesterol, body mass index, and mean arterial pressure.
Results:
Individuals with PTSD had less caudal cingulate area compared to TC even after controlling for caudal cingulate thickness. Total hippocampus volume was lower in PTSD compared to TC, accounted for by differences in CA1-CA4, granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus, molecular layer, and subiculum. Individuals with PTSD had higher mean arterial pressure compared to TC, which correlated with hippocampus volume only in the PTSD group.
Limitations:
Sample size, cross-sectional analysis, no control for medications and findings limited to males.
Conclusions:
These data demonstrate preferential involvement of caudal cingulate area (vs. thickness) and hippocampus subregions in PTSD. The inverse association between hippocampus volume and mean arterial pressure may contribute to accelerated aging known to be associated with PTSD.
More Related Videos
10:43Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
Published on: July 1, 2014
04:02Author Spotlight: Developing Precise and Clinically Relevant Models for Studying Secondary Degeneration in Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
Published on: November 29, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Role of Hippocampus in Memory
Traumatic Memory
Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory