The Evolution of Trauma

A soldier's brain learns that loud noises equal mortal peril. The incredible neurological energy of that trauma forged unusually strong neural links between the stimulus and the memories of pain and terror, perhaps they can never be broken. In this example, this theoretical soldier experienced something incredibly painful and scary that coincided with a loud noise. And now when they hear fireworks or a truckback firing or whatever, they will slip into a fugue state or just dive under the nearest table or they fly into a violent rage, all kinds of things.