The Role of Expectations in the Development of Intrusive Memories

Intrusive memories of a traumatic event can be reduced by a subsequent interference procedure, seemingly sparing voluntary memory for that event. This selective-interference effect has potential therapeutic benefits (e.g., for emotional disorders) and legal importance (e.g., for witness testimony). However, the measurements of intrusive memory and voluntary memory typically differ in the role of associations between a cue and the emotional memory “hotspots.” To test this, we asked participants to watch a traumatic film followed by either an interference procedure (reminder plus Tetris) or control procedure (reminder only). Measurement of intrusions (using a laboratory task) and voluntary memory (recognition for film stills) were crossed with the presence or absence of associative cues. The reminder-plus-Tetris group exhibited fewer intrusions despite comparable recognition memory, replicating the results of prior studies. Note that this selective interference did not appear to depend on associative cues. This involuntary versus voluntary memory dissociation for emotional material further supports separate-trace memory theories and has applied advantages.

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Resilience after trauma: The role of memory suppression

Science ◽

10.1126/science.aay8477 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 367 (6479) ◽

pp. eaay8477 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Alison Mary ◽

Jacques Dayan ◽

Giovanni Leone ◽

Charlotte Postel ◽

Florence Fraisse ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Control System ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Terrorist Attacks ◽

Intrusive Memories ◽

Memory Suppression ◽

Traumatic Memories ◽

Memory Control

In the aftermath of trauma, little is known about why the unwanted and unbidden recollection of traumatic memories persists in some individuals but not others. We implemented neutral and inoffensive intrusive memories in the laboratory in a group of 102 individuals exposed to the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks and 73 nonexposed individuals, who were not in Paris during the attacks. While reexperiencing these intrusive memories, nonexposed individuals and exposed individuals without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could adaptively suppress memory activity, but exposed individuals with PTSD could not. These findings suggest that the capacity to suppress memory is central to positive posttraumatic adaptation. A generalized disruption of the memory control system could explain the maladaptive and unsuccessful suppression attempts often seen in PTSD, and this disruption should be targeted by specific treatments.

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The role of negative interpretations of intrusive memories in depression

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jad.2006.03.001 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 93 (1-3) ◽

pp. 125-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Susannah Starr ◽

Michelle L. Moulds

Keyword(s):

Intrusive Memories

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The role of tonic immobility and control in the development of intrusive memories after experimental trauma

Memory ◽

10.1080/09658211.2018.1564331 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 772-779 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. M. E. Kuiling ◽

F. Klaassen ◽

M. A. Hagenaars

Keyword(s):

Tonic Immobility ◽

Intrusive Memories ◽

Experimental Trauma ◽

And Control

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Cognitive Flexibility Moderates the Efficacy of a Visuospatial Intervention Following Exposure to Analog Trauma

10.31234/osf.io/4aqbf ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alla Hemi ◽

Roxanne Sopp ◽

Ariel Perel ◽

Emily A Holmes ◽

Einat Levy-Gigi

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Flexibility ◽

Interactive Effect ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Control Group ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Intrusive Memories ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

The Impact

Objective: Intrusive memories are the hallmark feature of Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD). Recent studies have found that a visuospatial intervention after viewing traumatic films reduces intrusive memories in healthy individuals. However, many individuals still exhibit high levels of symptoms following such an intervention, warranting continued investigation into specific characteristics moderating intervention effect. One such candidate is cognitive flexibility, defined as the ability to update behavior in accordance with contextual demands. The present study aimed at examining the interactive effect of cognitive flexibility and a visuospatial intervention on intrusive memories, predicting that higher flexibility would be linked to stronger intervention effects. Method: Sixty participants (Mage = 29.07, SD = 4.23) completed a performance-based paradigm evaluating cognitive flexibility, watched traumatic films, and were allocated to either an intervention or control group. Intrusions were assessed by means of laboratory and ambulatory assessment, and the Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES-R). Results: Participants in the intervention group experienced fewer laboratory intrusions than the control group. However, this effect was moderated by cognitive flexibility: Whereas individuals with below-average cognitive flexibility did not benefit from the intervention, it was significantly beneficial for individuals with average and above-average cognitive flexibility. No group differences emerged in the number of ambulatory intrusions or IES-R scores. However, cognitive flexibility was negatively correlated with IES-R scores across both groups. Conclusions: These results highlight the significant role of cognitive flexibility in intrusion development, both in general and as a moderator of a visuospatial interventions. Future studies should investigate effects’ generalizability to clinical samples.

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Sleep Early After Trauma

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000401 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Yasmine Azza ◽

Ines Wilhelm ◽

Birgit Kleim

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Event ◽

Early Time ◽

Protective Role ◽

Intrusive Memories ◽

Emotional Memories ◽

Intervention Science ◽

Time Period ◽

Early Memory ◽

Exposure To Trauma

Abstract. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by intrusive re-experiencing of emotional memories of a traumatic event. Such memories are formed after exposure to trauma in the context of a cascading stress response including high levels of emotional arousal and stress hormone release. Sleep could be a key modulator of early memory formation and re-consolidation processes. Initial studies have investigated this association in this early time period, that is, hours and days after trauma exposure, and its role in modulating trauma memories and PTSD. The time is thus ripe to integrate findings from these studies. The current review consolidated evidence from five experimental and seven naturalistic studies on the association between trauma, sleep, and the development of intrusive emotional memories and PTSD, respectively. Together, the studies point to a potential protective role of sleep after trauma for the development of intrusive memories and PTSD. Findings regarding key sleep architecture features are more mixed and require additional investigation. The findings are important for prevention and intervention science.

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The Role of Stress in the Etiology of PTSD

10.1093/med/9780190457136.003.0012 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Edward F. Pace-Schott ◽

Samuel Gazecki

Keyword(s):

Neural Circuit ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Biological Factors ◽

Intrusive Memories ◽

The Past ◽

Posttraumatic Symptoms ◽

Mood And Cognition ◽

Pituitary Adrenal Axis

This chapter reviews the biological features of stress and their correlation to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over the past 15 years, advances in understanding the neurobiology of stress and anxiety have revealed underlying neural abnormalities that might help explain why posttraumatic symptoms—intrusive memories or nightmares, avoidance of situations or stimuli associated with the event, persistent negativity of mood and cognition, and hyperarousal—persist in patients with PTSD. This chapter focuses on research that has discovered how abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, abnormalities of the catecholamingergic/autonomic system, and atypical physiologic and neural circuit responses during fear extinction recall may be important biological factors in the etiology and maintenance of PTSD symptoms.

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