Selectively Interfering With Intrusive but Not Voluntary Memories of a Trauma Film: Accounting for the Role of Associative Memory

Abstract

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.

Persistence, intrusive memories, and the seventh seal.

“…As we noted earlier, we have in previous work demonstrated that the imagery-competing task intervention is successful in reducing intrusion rates while leaving factual and/or episodic components of the memory intact for voluntary retrieval (Lau-Zhu et al, 2019, 2021), consistent with dual representation accounts of intrusive memories (Brewin et al, 2010). This, however, leaves open the question of what precise features of the memories are being diminished (e.g., sensory–perceptual features), when they are transformed into a nonintrusive state, and how this relates to theoretical accounts on the basis of memory intrusions (e.g., Bisby et al, 2020; Brewin et al, 2010; Cohen & Kahana, 2022; Ehlers & Clark, 2000).…”

“…Anderson & Green, 2001, as discussed in Schacter, in press). Indeed, we have demonstrated that the imagery-competing task intervention is successful in reducing intrusion rates while keeping voluntary retrieval of the memories themselves intact (Lau-Zhu et al, 2019, 2021). This point is critical because it is important that individuals are still able to deliberately retrieve details of a traumatic event when they choose to (e.g., to report or provide testimony in legal settings) but do not suffer from unwanted recollection at times when they do not want to (i.e., intrusive memory persistence).…”

Accelerated forgetting of a trauma-like event in healthy men and women after a single dose of hydrocortisone

“…The findings also raise a number of questions, such as whether the observed day-dependent effects of hydrocortisone are specific to sensory-perceptual involuntary memories. In particular, would voluntary memory show a similar day-dependent effect (in the absence of a main effect of drug) if it was assessed repeatedly and matched to involuntary memory on various dimensions at test [ 63 ]? The current study also supports the notion that estradiol and progesterone are important determinants of memory functioning relevant to PTSD and other psychiatric conditions.…”

Room for Feelings: A “Working Memory” Account of Affective Processing

“…Interestingly, in both studies, recognition memory for the material was unaffected by the Tetris manipulation, suggesting that the intervention specifically impacted the emotional quality of those memories. Follow-up research moreover showed that whereas intrusive memories were downregulated by the Tetris intervention, voluntary memories were still intact (Lau-Zhu et al, 2021).…”