Climate-related trauma can have lasting effects on decision-making

UC San Diego study shows trauma from climate events can impact brain functions

Traumatic experiences caused by climate, such as experiencing a wildfire, can have lingering impacts on how our brains work, according to a UC San Diego study published Wednesday. The researchers focused on survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire that raged in Butte County and remains the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s recorded history. According to the study, those survivors still have difficulty making decisions prioritizing l…

Study: Trauma suffered by wildfire survivors has unexpected long-term impacts

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Trauma, such as experiencing a wildfire, can have lingering impacts on decision-making, according to a UC San Diego study published Wednesday. Researchers dubbed the condition “climate trauma.” The study indicates that wildfire survivors have difficulty making decisions prioritizing …

Climate-related trauma can have lasting effects on decision-making

A new study suggests that climate trauma -- such as experiencing a devastating wildfire -- can have lasting effects on cognitive function.

Think about losing everything in a devastating fire: your home, your memories, your sense of security. Now imagine that, on top of that, the disaster has also silently changed your brain, altering your ability to make sound decisions about your future. That’s the alarming conclusion of a new study published in Scientific Reports. Researchers at the University of California San Diego found that survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire (one of the most dev…

Natural Disaster Trauma Disrupts Brain’s Decision Circuits

Survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire in California exhibit long-term cognitive changes, particularly in decision-making. Participants directly exposed to the wildfire showed reduced ability to choose long-term rewards and displayed hyperactivity in brain regions tied to rumination.

UCSD study finds trauma from climactic events can impact how brain works

Traumatic experiences caused by climate, such as experiencing a wildfire, can have lingering impacts on how our brains work, according to a UC San Diego study published Wednesday.