However, when a person experiences a traumatic event, the body will typically go into a fight/flight/freeze response. The part of the brain activated in dealing with the memory is the amygdala, the seat of the limbic system, and the most primitive part of the brain. The amygdala is linked to the primary senses of vision, smell, sound and physical sensation. It does not have a cognitive function, and the stored memory is often fragmented.