Female brain forms fear memories through unique molecular process

Women are twice as likely as men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - and new research may offer a biological clue as to why.

A Virginia Tech study found that the female brain forms fear memories using a molecular process not seen in the male brain.

The findings suggest that treatments for PTSD may need to be tailored differently for men and women, said the study's lead researcher, Timothy Jarome, an associate professor of neurobiology in the School of Animal Sciences located within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Women are more likely to have PTSD than men, but they don't report experiencing more traumatic events. This points to a neurobiological mechanism that's engaged in females during a traumatic event, and it may help explain the difference we see in PTSD."