"Our findings suggest it is possible that boys and girls could exhibit different trauma symptoms and that they might benefit from different approaches to treatment."
And she added: "There are some studies suggesting that high levels of stress could contribute to early puberty in girls."
Dr Klabunde said they would now look at other regions of the brain connected to the insula to see if they could detect similar changes.
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is the term used to described the psychological effects of being involved in a traumatic event, such as a major car accident, a natural disaster, bullying, abuse or violent crime.
Many young people who experience very distressing events recover without experiencing PTSD - but some people do develop it.
Symptoms can include:
- Flashbacks and nightmares
- Avoiding reliving the event
- Anxiety, unable to relax
- Problems sleeping
- Problems eating
The charity
Young Minds says it is normal to experience symptoms for a few weeks after a distressing event but if you are still having symptoms after a month, it is a good idea to talk to your GP who should offer you some therapy to deal with your thoughts and behaviour.