Challenging memories reduces intrusive memories and the memory amplification effect

Chunlin Li*, Henry Otgaar, Fabiana Battista, Peter Muris, Jianqin Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This study scrutinizes the influence of attenuating beliefs about the veracity of traumatic experiences on the manifestation of intrusive recollections and the memory amplification effect. Participants were exposed to distress-inducing visual stimuli, subsequently rating their emotional status pre and post exposure. They engaged in a recognition task, identifying scenarios within the stimuli. Participants' recall was contested, casting doubt about the occurrence of certain scenes. Subsequently, they maintained a daily log of intrusive memories over a week. A second session reiterated the same process. This method effectively diminished the certainty in the participants' traumatic memories. Scenes whose occurrence was contested demonstrated a significant decline in both intrusive memories and memory amplification when juxtaposed with uncontested ones. Interestingly, no significant correlation emerged between the diminished belief in traumatic incidents and reductions in intrusive memory or memory amplification. Thus, this study advocates that interrogating the veracity of traumatic recollections can mitigate the prevalence of intrusive memories and the memory amplification effect, suggesting a novel potential therapeutic approach for trauma-related disorders.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1039-1050
Number of pages12
JournalMemory
Volume31
Issue number8
Early online date1 Jun 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Sept 2023

Keywords

  • Beliefs about traumatic events
  • trauma-inducing videos
  • social feedback
  • intrusive memories
  • memory amplification
  • FALSE MEMORIES
  • PTSD SYMPTOMS
  • BELIEF
  • DISSOCIATION
  • IMAGES
  • FRAGMENTATION
  • VULNERABILITY
  • DEPRESSION
  • VETERANS
  • EVENT

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