Damage Control: Brain injuries fight off PTSD in vets

Brain damage suffered while fighting in a war can undermine core aspects of a soldier’s personality and behavior. In two particular neural regions, however, such wounds actually protect combat veterans against developing the severe stress reaction known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new study finds.

PROTECTIVE HARM. Brain images use the colors blue and green to denote damaged parts of the prefrontal cortex (top) and the amygdala (bottom), linked to low rates of PTSD.