The brains of 60 people, who experienced significant personal loss during the earthquakes, but don’t have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other psychiatric disorders, are being examined.
Their experiences include physical injury or illness, seeing buildings fall, witnessing death or loss of income or property.
The aim is to show that psychologically healthy people may still be vulnerable to other implications at a later date.
New Zealand Brain Institute’s Nadia Borlase said: “There has been quite a lot of research on people who do have psychological trauma and the brain changes associated with that, but our study is different because these people don’t have any psychological trauma.
“We actually already had an existing participant group, which has been followed for the last eight years. What we have done this year is starting to look at their brains.”
Saturday will mark the ninth anniversary of the February 22, 2011, 6.3 magnitude earthquake, which claimed the lives of 185 people.
In total, 120 people will have their brains scanned - 60 from Christchurch and 60 from Dunedin, who were not exposed to the events.
The two-year study is ongoing and expected to be complete in June next year.
"So the brain activates in response to a triggering event more than you would see with someone who hasn’t been exposed to any trauma.
"So that’s what we are expecting to see, but we haven’t got there yet. We haven’t got enough brain scans to say that is what we are seeing in our group, yet."
A scheme called the International Affective Picture System is being used during the brain scans.
“It is a series of validated pictures, which are designed to elicit an emotional response.
"So we might show them a picture of a car crash, a burns victim or weaponry. What we are looking for is how their brain responds to the picture, in comparison to a coffee cup or a flower so something completely innocuous.
"So what we’re expecting is, because the Canterbury people have been through such a stressful time when they see the not very nice pictures, their brains will respond much more than say, for example, our control group in Dunedin would.
“We basically don’t want to say, oh gosh, you’ve lived through a terrible time and you are completely fine, off you go. We don’t have the research to support that statement at the moment and that’s why this research is so important, we don’t know what the long term implications are yet,” Dr Borlase said.
Quake memorial service events
- Civic Memorial Service
Saturday, 12.30pm
Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial
The ninth anniversary of the February 2011 quake that killed 185 people will be marked with a civic memorial service. All are welcome to attend. The service has been developed in collaboration with the Quake Families Trust.
- River of Flowers Earthquake Commemorations
Saturday, 12.30-1.30pm
Owles Terrace, New Brighton
The main focus of the ceremony will be two minutes silence and the opportunity to place flowers together in the Otakaro Avon River from the pontoon.
- John Taylor Memorial Opening
Saturday, 10-10:30am
Morris St, Avonside
John Taylor was the last resident living in Avonside following the earthquakes, he died in 2017. The ceremony on the ninth anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake will take 10-15min.
- 185 Chairs - Earthquake Art Installation
The 185 chairs installation was created by artist Peter Majendie and is located on the corner of Madras and Cashel Sts in commemoration of the 185 people who died.
