From Learned Helplessness to Learned Controllability: Cognitive and Neurobiological Aspects Involved in the Development of Trauma or Resilience

It has been demonstrated the role of stress in the development of depression and anxiety disorders, including the effects of early traumatic events and the impact of chronic adverse experiences in the development of learned helplessness and subsequent depression. An increasing body of research contributed to a better understanding of the impact of stressful events on different cognitive functions, which in turn may lead to altered emotional and behavioral responses. Severe or chronic stressful situations may also lead to molecular and neurobiological changes, including alteration of the HPA axis and various neurotransmitter systems, which in turn have been associated with altered emotional and cognitive functions. The possibility to exert control on stressful situations plays a critical role in the development of resilience while avoiding traumatic outcomes. Current knowledge about psycho-neurobiological processes involved in controllability may contribute to improving strategies to develop resilience, therefore reducing vulnerability to stressful events, and protecting against their traumatic effects, while providing important resources to improve therapeutic approaches for the treatment and prevention of mood disorders.

Chronic stressful situations may lead to alteration in cognitive processing, which in turn may lead to emotional and behavioral changes, including learned helplessness, and subsequent depression. These changes have been associated with alteration of the HPA axis, with the consequently increased levels of cortisol, and neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin, dopamine, and CRH. When environmental stressors are perceived as controllable, adaptive cognitive processing may be translated into effective adaptive responses, including more effective coping strategies. These adaptive responses have been associated with adequate regulation of the HPA axis and neurotransmitter systems, including dopamine, involved in rewarding experiences, and serotonin, associated with increased tolerance to adverse stimuli. Cognitive approaches and pharmacological interventions have been shown to improve controllability, which in turn has been associated with resilience. Perceived control has been associated with increased activation in the ventromedial PFC, which in turn has been associated with regulatory effects on limbic structures, such as the amygdala, involved in fear and anxiety, and certain neurotransmitter pathways. Research in this field may lead to further knowledge about the interface between cognitive functions and underlying neurobiological processes while providing more effective strategies to improve current approaches for the treatment of multiple conditions associated with stress, particularly depression.

This Research Topic welcomes Original Research articles, including neurobiological, clinical, and pre-clinical studies focused on controllable vs. uncontrollable stressful situations, including trauma and resilience, are welcome. Reviews about the links between stress, learned helplessness, and controllability, as well as cognitive and neurobiological processes underlying trauma and resilience, are also welcome.

• Psychoneurobiological processes involved in stress and controllability
• Cognitive approaches aimed at improving controllability and resilience
• Pharmacological approaches associated with clinical recovery and resilience
• Neurotransmitter pathways involved in vulnerability and resilience
• Clinical and pre-clinical studies on stress, trauma, and resilience
• Integrative approaches aimed at improving controllability and developing resilience