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Hippocampal diminution in PTSD: More (or less?) than meets the eye

Hippocampal diminution in PTSD: More (or less?) than meets the eye INTRODUCTION Scientific “debates” differ from other kinds of debates, e.g., legal proceedings. In the latter, the facts are found by the vote of a jury. In the former, the facts are found in further data. If and when sufficient data bearing on the issue come in, the scientific fact becomes self-evident and is no longer a matter of debate. Scientific debates are only staged when the available data are insufficient to make debate unnecessary. Unlike other debates, in a scientific debate, the “winner” may wind up the loser, when the elegance of his or her argument is humbled by the further data. As Dr. Sapolsky notes in his review, four studies have reported smaller hippocampal volume in persons with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is tempting to accept the elegant explanation offered by findings from the animal literature that stress has damaged this brain structure. Each of these studies, however, has been cross-sectional, and therefore correlative. It is important to keep in mind the axiom that correlation does not amount to causation. Indeed, one can think of at least six alternate explanations of the association between smaller hippocampal volume and PTSD: 1. Preexisting smaller hippocampi increase the risk http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Hippocampus Wiley

Hippocampal diminution in PTSD: More (or less?) than meets the eye

Pitman, Roger K.
Hippocampus , Volume 11 (2) – Jan 1, 2001
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References (14)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ISSN
1050-9631
eISSN
1098-1063
DOI
10.1002/hipo.1022
pmid
11345126
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Scientific “debates” differ from other kinds of debates, e.g., legal proceedings. In the latter, the facts are found by the vote of a jury. In the former, the facts are found in further data. If and when sufficient data bearing on the issue come in, the scientific fact becomes self-evident and is no longer a matter of debate. Scientific debates are only staged when the available data are insufficient to make debate unnecessary. Unlike other debates, in a scientific debate, the “winner” may wind up the loser, when the elegance of his or her argument is humbled by the further data. As Dr. Sapolsky notes in his review, four studies have reported smaller hippocampal volume in persons with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is tempting to accept the elegant explanation offered by findings from the animal literature that stress has damaged this brain structure. Each of these studies, however, has been cross-sectional, and therefore correlative. It is important to keep in mind the axiom that correlation does not amount to causation. Indeed, one can think of at least six alternate explanations of the association between smaller hippocampal volume and PTSD: 1. Preexisting smaller hippocampi increase the risk

Journal

Hippocampus – Wiley

Published: Jan 1, 2001

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