10/15/25, 8:29
AM
COGSCI180 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
VERIFIED LATEST UPDATE
Dissociation/dissociative disorders often linked
to trauma
Dissociation from the
Self During traumatic experiences, intense
desire to act happens while paralyzed
with horror - body/brain "freeze" →
dissociate to avoid physical/emotional
pain
Develops in response to a
shocking/scary/dangerous event
Symptoms: disturbing
Post-Traumatic Stress thoughts/feelings/dreams related to
Disorder (PTSD) events, mental/physical distress to
trauma-related cues
Neurologically, PTSD characterized by:
hyperarousal, dissociation, attempts to
avoid trauma-related cues, negative
changes in thinking and mood, increase
1/84
,10/15/25, 8:29
AM
in fight-or-
flight response
The trauma experience entails urge to
take action (fight or flight) @ same time
that one is paralyzed by helplessness
- Sense of horror "frozen" in body → person
dissociates
Dissociative aspect of As a result, little/no
trauma connections form
between neocortex
& memory
storage/emotional centers (e.g., amygdala)
PTSD associated with over-activation of
brain's opioid system → numbing of
feelings, sense of being cut off
from life/concern about others' feelings
2/84
,10/15/25, 8:29
AM
2 forms:
1) Cognitive behavioral therapy: patient
retells/reconstructs story of trauma in
safe environment (play therapy for
children)
2) Somatic therapies:
Psychotherapeutic - In trauma, sense of horror gets "frozen" in body
treatment for PTSD → person dissociates
may take the form
- Somatic therapies like bioenergetics,
of...
sensorimotor psychotherapy, EMDR focus
on helping clients...
- Reconnect w/emotions by reconnecting w/body
- Express frozen emotions to foster
emotional release, heal trauma. Ex: Pat
Ogden case
- Mindfulness therapy for treatment of trauma
may work similarly
★ Case examples of traumatic memories getting
frozen in body
Patient asked to retell/reconstruct story of
trauma in safe environment (play therapy
for children)
- Story should include emotional reactions
3/84
, 10/15/25, 8:29
AM
experienced + events
- Goal: put entire memory into words to
capture dissociated parts from
Cognitive Behavioral conscious recall
Therapy (CBT) - Memories are thereby brought more
under control of neocortex - reactions
they kindle can be more manageable
- Also, retelling story in safety/security,
with trusted therapist enables security
rather than terror to be
associated/connected to trauma
memories
May need to focus more on Cognitive
Behavior Therapy, relaxation techniques,
or physical exercise initially, esp in
cases of severe trauma
Bioenergetics, sensorimotor psychotherapy,
EMDR
In trauma, horror gets "frozen" in body
→ person dissociates. Somatic
therapies focus on helping clients...
Somatic therapies - Reconnect w/those emotions by reconnecting
(methods, goals, with the body
example) - Express frozen emotions as a way to
4/84
AM
COGSCI180 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
VERIFIED LATEST UPDATE
Dissociation/dissociative disorders often linked
to trauma
Dissociation from the
Self During traumatic experiences, intense
desire to act happens while paralyzed
with horror - body/brain "freeze" →
dissociate to avoid physical/emotional
pain
Develops in response to a
shocking/scary/dangerous event
Symptoms: disturbing
Post-Traumatic Stress thoughts/feelings/dreams related to
Disorder (PTSD) events, mental/physical distress to
trauma-related cues
Neurologically, PTSD characterized by:
hyperarousal, dissociation, attempts to
avoid trauma-related cues, negative
changes in thinking and mood, increase
1/84
,10/15/25, 8:29
AM
in fight-or-
flight response
The trauma experience entails urge to
take action (fight or flight) @ same time
that one is paralyzed by helplessness
- Sense of horror "frozen" in body → person
dissociates
Dissociative aspect of As a result, little/no
trauma connections form
between neocortex
& memory
storage/emotional centers (e.g., amygdala)
PTSD associated with over-activation of
brain's opioid system → numbing of
feelings, sense of being cut off
from life/concern about others' feelings
2/84
,10/15/25, 8:29
AM
2 forms:
1) Cognitive behavioral therapy: patient
retells/reconstructs story of trauma in
safe environment (play therapy for
children)
2) Somatic therapies:
Psychotherapeutic - In trauma, sense of horror gets "frozen" in body
treatment for PTSD → person dissociates
may take the form
- Somatic therapies like bioenergetics,
of...
sensorimotor psychotherapy, EMDR focus
on helping clients...
- Reconnect w/emotions by reconnecting w/body
- Express frozen emotions to foster
emotional release, heal trauma. Ex: Pat
Ogden case
- Mindfulness therapy for treatment of trauma
may work similarly
★ Case examples of traumatic memories getting
frozen in body
Patient asked to retell/reconstruct story of
trauma in safe environment (play therapy
for children)
- Story should include emotional reactions
3/84
, 10/15/25, 8:29
AM
experienced + events
- Goal: put entire memory into words to
capture dissociated parts from
Cognitive Behavioral conscious recall
Therapy (CBT) - Memories are thereby brought more
under control of neocortex - reactions
they kindle can be more manageable
- Also, retelling story in safety/security,
with trusted therapist enables security
rather than terror to be
associated/connected to trauma
memories
May need to focus more on Cognitive
Behavior Therapy, relaxation techniques,
or physical exercise initially, esp in
cases of severe trauma
Bioenergetics, sensorimotor psychotherapy,
EMDR
In trauma, horror gets "frozen" in body
→ person dissociates. Somatic
therapies focus on helping clients...
Somatic therapies - Reconnect w/those emotions by reconnecting
(methods, goals, with the body
example) - Express frozen emotions as a way to
4/84
