How Trauma May Be Stored in Non-Brain Cells
Trauma is often thought of as a psychological phenomenon, but groundbreaking research suggests that memory-like processes exist in non-brain cells, challenging conventional wisdom. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s influential book The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk, 2014) illustrates how trauma imprints on the body, influencing behavior, health, and well-being. Now, neuroscientists have discovered that non-neural cells exhibit memory-like behavior (Kukushkin et al., 2024), further supporting the idea that trauma is encoded beyond the brain. This revelation could revolutionize trauma therapy and behavioral health interventions.
Trauma and the Body: More Than Just the Brain
Neuroscience and psychology have long focused on the brain’s role in processing trauma, but the nervous system extends far beyond the brain itself. Trauma responses manifest in muscle tension, chronic pain, digestive disorders, and immune dysfunction (van der Kolk, 2014). Somatic therapies, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and somatic experiencing, recognize that trauma is stored in the body, not just in cognitive memory (Shapiro, 2018).
The Science of Memory Storage in Non-Brain Cells
A study published in Nature Communications (Kukushkin et al., 2024) reveals that non-neural cells can store and recall information in ways previously thought to be exclusive to neurons. Researchers found that certain non-brain cells exhibit memory-like responses when exposed to repeated chemical stimuli. This phenomenon mirrors how the brain processes information through the massed-spaced learning effect, where repeated exposure over time strengthens memory formation.
The key scientific mechanisms underlying this process involve:
CREB (cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein): A molecule essential for memory formation in neurons, now observed in non-neural cells (Kukushkin et al., 2024).
ERK (Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase): Plays a crucial role in long-term memory consolidation and cellular response (Carew & Kandel, 2002).
Spaced Learning Effect: Memory retention is stronger when stimuli are presented over time rather than in a single burst (Ebbinghaus, 1885).
How Trauma May Be Coded in Non-Brain Cells
This research aligns with the idea that trauma is not just psychological but physiological. When someone experiences repeated trauma, stress chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline create patterns that imprint on cells throughout the body (Sapolsky, 2004). Over time, these stress responses become automatic, contributing to chronic stress disorders, PTSD, and even intergenerational trauma (Yehuda et al., 2015).
Potential trauma-coding mechanisms in non-brain cells include:
Cellular Pathways Holding Trauma Responses: Just as neurons retain memories, non-neural cells may hold emotional responses to trauma (Kukushkin et al., 2024).
Epigenetic Trauma Transmission: Trauma may be passed down biologically through gene expression changes, affecting future generations (Yehuda et al., 2015).
Somatic Markers of Trauma: Chronic inflammation, heightened stress responses, and dysregulated immune function may be linked to trauma stored at the cellular level (McEwen, 1998).
Implications for Trauma Therapy and Behavioral Health
If non-brain cells can store trauma-related information, trauma therapy must evolve to address whole-body healing. This insight supports the effectiveness of somatic therapies, which focus on engaging the body in trauma recovery (Shapiro, 2018).
Somatic Healing and Cellular Memory Processing
Therapeutic interventions that could help release trauma stored in non-brain cells include:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Uses bilateral stimulation to reprocess traumatic memories (Shapiro, 2018).
Somatic Experiencing: Encourages individuals to reconnect with bodily sensations to release stored trauma (Levine, 2010).
Breathwork & Meditation: Helps regulate the nervous system and reset trauma-related cellular patterns (Hopper et al., 2007).
Spaced Learning in Therapy: By gradually exposing individuals to triggers in a controlled manner, therapists can retrain the body’s response to stress (Ebbinghaus, 1885).
The Future of Trauma-Informed Behavioral Health
This discovery could transform the future of trauma-informed care by integrating cellular memory into mental health treatments.
AI-driven therapy could personalize interventions based on how trauma manifests in the body (Haque et al., 2020).
New drug-free treatments may emerge by leveraging the body’s natural ability to reprogram cellular memory (Kukushkin et al., 2024).
Holistic mental health practices will become more essential in treating conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression (van der Kolk, 2014).
Conclusion
Science now supports what trauma-informed practitioners have long understood: the body truly keeps the score. With new insights into memory-like processes in non-brain cells, behavioral health professionals have an opportunity to refine therapeutic approaches, helping clients heal at a deeper, physiological level. At MPOWERme, Inc., we integrate research with compassionate, whole-body care. If you’re looking for innovative solutions to trauma and behavioral health challenges, reach out to explore personalized healing pathways.
References
Carew, T. J., & Kandel, E. R. (2002). Memory and learning: Molecular and cellular approaches.
Ebbinghaus, H. (1885). Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology.
Haque, A., Guo, M., Verma, P., & Choi, K. (2020). AI-driven behavioral therapy for trauma recovery. Journal of Computational Neuroscience.
Hopper, J. W., Frewen, P. A., van der Kolk, B. A., & Lanius, R. A. (2007). Neural correlates of re-experiencing traumatic memories in PTSD. Biological Psychiatry.
Kukushkin, N. V., Carney, R. E., Tabassum, T., & Carew, T. J. (2024). The massed-spaced learning effect in non-neural human cells. Nature Communications.
Levine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness.
McEwen, B. S. (1998). Stress, adaptation, and disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers.
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Third Edition: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures.
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
Yehuda, R., Daskalakis, N. P., Bierer, L. M., Bader, H. N., Klengel, T., Holsboer, F., & Binder, E. B. (2015). Epigenetic mechanisms in PTSD. Psychoneuroendocrinology.