A recent study from the University of California, San Diego, highlights the significant and lasting impact of climate trauma on cognitive function. The research, which focused on survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California, revealed that individuals directly exposed to the disaster exhibited significant challenges in decision-making, particularly when it came to making choices that prioritize long-term benefits. The study, published in Scientific Reports, suggests that climate-related disasters like wildfires may not only affect mental health but also influence critical cognitive abilities.
Wildfires, which have become more frequent due to climate change, have long been known to affect both the physical and mental health of those who experience them. The psychological toll of disasters like the Camp Fire often manifests in conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. This new study expands on previous research by showing that climate trauma can also disrupt cognitive processes, particularly in decision-making.
Jyoti Mishra, Ph.D., senior author of the study and associate professor at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine, explains: “Our previous research has shown that survivors of California’s 2018 Camp Fire experience prolonged symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression alongside hyper-distractibility. This new study suggests that climate trauma may also impact important cognitive abilities of decision-making and underlying brain function.”
The study involved 75 participants, categorized into three groups:
- Directly exposed to the fire (27 participants)
- Indirectly exposed (witnessed the fire but were not directly affected, 21 participants)
- Non-exposed controls (27 participants)
Participants were asked to complete a decision-making task that involved selecting options with monetary rewards. While performing this task, participants also underwent Electroencephalogram (EEG) brain recordings to monitor their brain activity. The study specifically measured their “Win-Stay” behavior, which evaluates how often individuals continue to make choices that yield long-term rewards.
The study’s findings were striking: survivors of the Camp Fire were significantly less likely to make decisions that prioritized long-term benefits, a pattern that was measured using the “Win-Stay” behavior metric. Additionally, the EEG brain scans revealed heightened activity in the parietal brain region, particularly in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). This brain region is associated with deep thought and rumination.
Jason Nan, a bioengineering graduate student at UC San Diego and the first author of the study, notes: “It was clear that the brains of study participants directly exposed to wildfires—compared to those not exposed—became significantly hyper-aroused when trying to make proper decision choices, but they were still unable to execute the task well. We interpret this to mean that their brain was attempting to focus on making sound decisions, but they were unable to.”
The findings suggest that climate trauma, such as surviving a wildfire, may interfere with an individual’s ability to make decisions that involve long-term planning and benefits. The hyper-arousal of the brain, as observed in the study, could explain why individuals exposed to traumatic climate events struggle with decision-making, even when their brain is actively attempting to focus.
Researchers hope that understanding how climate trauma affects decision-making will lead to new diagnostic tools and personalized treatment plans for those impacted by such events. One potential intervention is mindfulness and compassion training, which has shown promise in reducing ruminating thoughts and mitigating the effects of trauma. Early intervention following climate disasters is crucial for improving the mental health and cognitive function of survivors.
As climate-related disasters continue to grow in frequency and intensity, researchers emphasize the urgent need for further investigation into the long-term cognitive effects of repeated exposure to climate trauma. The study’s authors suggest that future research should focus on comparing pre- and post-disaster cognitive changes, investigating the effects of recurrent climate trauma, and developing scalable mental health interventions for affected communities.
The study was funded by the Tang Prize Foundation, the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, and the CA CARES (Climate Action, Resilience, and Environmental Sustainability) proof of concept funds.
This study underscores the far-reaching consequences of climate change, highlighting that its impact extends beyond physical and mental health to include cognitive abilities such as decision-making. As the frequency of climate disasters like wildfires increases, understanding the full range of effects on survivors becomes critical. With further research and the development of tailored interventions, there is hope for mitigating the cognitive and emotional burdens placed on communities affected by climate trauma.
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