Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Farewell flashbacks (Developing science-driven therapies after trauma: Neural mechanisms underlying the modification of intrusive emotional memories)
Berichtszeitraum: 2016-09-01 bis 2018-08-31
More specifically, we asked the following questions.
1) What is the neural profile of emotional memory formation and reactivation (using traumatic film clips) and how does that profile relate to subsequent voluntary versus involuntary (intrusive) memory?
2) How can we use competing task methodology shortly after a distressing event to weaken intrusive emotional memory?
We were able to look at how much the brain replayed the film clips in the rest immediately after seeing them, and to assess how this replay related to subsequent memory, both deliberately recalled memory and involuntary (intrusive) memories. This allowed us to challenge assumptions of basic models of memory (see https://www.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0209). We also made initial steps in terms of how we can use competing task methodology in the real world.
The results of this work have been presented at several national and international conferences, e.g. the 25th annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society in Boston, and will soon be submitted for publication in a scientific journal. A main theory paper on the malleability of emotional memory was also published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B (https://www.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0209). Another theoretical paper on how cognitive science has contributed to our understanding of the development and treatment of intrusive memories of trauma was published in Clinical Psychology Review (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2018.08.005).
In addition, we continue the development of new analytical tools to address the first question in greater depth, asking about the nature of the possible dissociation between involuntary and voluntary memory. This will help us in the future to better understand neural mechanisms underlying the weakening of involuntary emotional memory.
Another, more translational, experiment looked at how we can use competing task methodology shortly after a distressing event to weaken intrusive emotional memory. It investigated the feasibility of delivering such interventions via people's smartphones during critical time-windows of memory malleability (Figure 1). This experiment provided the necessary groundwork for ongoing studies in Sweden on the scalability of simple-to-deliver psychological interventions for trauma-related symptoms.
Exploitation of the results includes a contribution to our understanding of trauma-related symptoms and psychological treatment innovation. Regular meetings between scientists and clinicians alongside public engagement activities foster this.