English

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  This English term is a hot word. Its inclusion on Wiktionary is provisional.

Etymology

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Coined in or popularized by the 2024 paper referenced below. Compare baby brain, chemobrain.

Noun

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tornado brain (uncountable)

  1. Mental health difficulties faced by the survivors of a tornado.
    • 2024 February 19, Jennifer M. First, Megan Carnahan, Mansoo Yu, Sangwon Lee, J. Brian Houston, quoting anonymized tornado survivor “Terri”, “‘Recovering from Tornado Brain’: A Qualitative Analysis of Long-Term Needs after One of the Deadliest Tornadoes in U.S. History”, in Clinical Social Work Journal, →DOI, →ISSN, page 4:
      I need help concentrating and recovering from what we call ‘tornado brain’ in Joplin. Every time we hear the rumble of the storm, we think and hear the tornado happening.

References

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  • First, Jennifer M., Megan Carnahan, Mansoo Yu, Sangwon Lee, J. Brian Houston (2024 February 19) “‘Recovering from Tornado Brain’: A Qualitative Analysis of Long-Term Needs after One of the Deadliest Tornadoes in U.S. History”, in Clinical Social Work Journal, →DOI, →ISSN, pages 1-11