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• Reviews •
Advances in functional brain imaging research of post-traumatic stress disorder induced by different trauma types
LIU Yang  LUO Yifeng  CAO Zhihong  LI Yuefeng  GE Jiyuan  LAN Qingyue  QI Rongfeng  WU Luoan  ZHANG Li  LU Guangming 

Cite this article as: LIU Y, LUO Y F, CAO Z H, et al. Advances in functional brain imaging research of post-traumatic stress disorder induced by different trauma types[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2026, 17(3): 93-98. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.03.013.


[Abstract] Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly heterogeneous psychiatric condition, and its underlying neural mechanisms are closely linked to the specific nature of the traumatic experience. Current research is limited by insufficient control over critical confounding factors, such as comorbidity, and the duration and frequency of trauma exposure. Future studies should prioritize rigorous measurement and statistical control of these variables in their design to more accurately delineate the neural effects attributable to trauma itself.This review systematically synthesizes and compares functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on PTSD resulting from distinct types of trauma, including war-related experiences, childhood maltreatment, sexual violence, traffic accidents, and natural disasters. We summarize the characteristic patterns of brain dysfunction associated with each trauma type and discuss their implications for developing a refined "trauma type–neural circuit–clinical phenotype" model. This work aims to provide a theoretical foundation for advancing the neurobiological subtyping of PTSD and fostering the development of individualized therapeutic interventions.
[Keywords] post-traumatic stress disorder；magnetic resonance imaging；functional magnetic resonance imaging；trauma types；brain networks；clinical heterogeneity

LIU Yang1   LUO Yifeng1*   CAO Zhihong1   LI Yuefeng1   GE Jiyuan1   LAN Qingyue1   QI Rongfeng2   WU Luoan3   ZHANG Li4   LU Guangming5  

1 Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Yixing Hospital of Jiangsu University, Wuxi 214200, China

2 Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China

3 Department of Psychiatry, Yixing Mental Health Center, Wuxi 214200, China

4 National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorder (the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University), Changsha 410011, China

5 Department of Medical Imaging, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing 210002, China

Corresponding author: LUO Y F, E-mail: luoyifeng1207@163.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-12-06
Accepted  2026-02-22
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.03.013
Cite this article as: LIU Y, LUO Y F, CAO Z H, et al. Advances in functional brain imaging research of post-traumatic stress disorder induced by different trauma types[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2026, 17(3): 93-98. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.03.013.

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