The Effect of Acute Stress on the Maturing Brain, 2017

This project aims to increase the understanding of how the brain is affected and works after major psychological stresses. The study investigates whether a trauma like 22 July has affected important cognitive functions and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms among the survivors from Utøya compared to a control-group (similar age, gender, sociodemographic data and political interest). Data includes MR data, neuropsychiatric interviews, registration of circadian rhythms, survey and saliva tests.

How psychologically stressful incidents such as July 22nd affect brain areas, like attention and memory, have not been previously been investigated in adolescents. This knowledge is important in order to offer better treatment and adaptation to both survivors after Utøya and future youths exposed to traumatic events. This project is a collaboration between the University of Bergen, the fMRI group in Bergen, the Research Group on Experimental and Clinical Stress and Sleep (RECSS), Helse Bergen and RVTS Vest. The University of Bergen is responsible for the study. The project also collaborates with the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo who have been conducting a similar study.

本项目旨在加深对重大心理应激后大脑受影响方式及运作机制的理解。本研究对比于特岛袭击幸存者与对照组（年龄、性别、社会人口学特征及政治倾向匹配）的情况，探究7·22这类创伤事件是否会影响幸存者的重要认知功能及潜在神经生理机制。本研究采集的数据包括磁共振数据（MR）、神经精神访谈资料、昼夜节律记录、问卷调查结果及唾液检测样本。

此前尚未有针对青少年群体的研究，探究7·22这类心理应激事件如何影响其与注意力、记忆相关的脑区及功能。该研究成果可为于特岛袭击幸存者以及未来遭遇创伤事件的青少年提供更优质的治疗与适应干预方案，具有重要现实意义。本项目由卑尔根大学、卑尔根功能磁共振成像（fMRI）小组、实验与临床应激与睡眠研究组（RECSS）、卑尔根医疗（Helse Bergen）及RVTS Vest联合开展，由卑尔根大学统筹负责本研究。本项目还与奥斯陆大学心理学系开展合作，该系正同步开展同类研究。