Network Neuroscience and Translational Medicine for Understanding Mental Health: The example of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Translational network neuroscience and models have the potential to change fundamentally our understanding of nature mental illness. Network suggests that pathology-linked systems such as emotion regulation derive from synchronized activation multiple, sometimes regionally disparate areas brain. While methods actualize this are emerging, case (e.g., those who meet criteria for a disorder) control “healthy” participants) continue dominate literature. Here I illustrate, why field translational has abandon potential, provide perspective on path forward using recent research posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The heterogeneity illness - just in presentation meeting diagnostic within specific disorders combined with complexity human brain cannot be directly mapped any one individual region or even multiple regions. Fine grained (symptom level), well-developed (psychometrically sound), continuous measures symptom expression intensity will critical like PTSD.