Researchers analyzed 193 patients from the Vietnam Head Injury Study with penetrating traumatic brain injury to determine if the location of shrapnel damage to their brains influenced risk of developing PTSD. Damage to areas connected to the amygdala was associated with a lower chance of developing PTSD. The study suggests lesions that could protect against PTSD map to a specific brain circuit connected to the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex.
Read more: Common brain network detected among veterans with traumatic brain injury could protect against PTSD
Parkinson's disease, a debilitating nervous system disorder, is treated with medications that sometimes cause impaired decision-making and poor impulse control. Now, researchers have identified a structure in the brain called the external globus pallidus which may be responsible for this side effect, paving the way for new treatments.
Read more: A risky business: Why do some Parkinson's disease treatments affect decision making?