One Reason Why We May Have Intrusive Memories

Please follow and like us:

When people have a traumatic experience they will often develop are certain reaction to the event called a peritraumatic reaction. Common reactions are dissociation and distress. Stemming from these reactions are intrusive memories, but it is often uncertain why these memories will form and when they will come back into consciousness. It is largely agreed that it is primarily peritraumatic reactions that are responsible for most intrusive thoughts. This area of research can help treat PTSD people that have experience traumatic events.

Key Takeaways:

A peritraumatic reaction is a descriptor that speaks to the thoughts, feelings and actions people experience during and directly following a traumatic event.
One such feeling can be dissociation, which is when a victim chooses to believe a traumatic event is not real.
Another possible reaction to trauma is tonic immobility, which is when a victim is literally unable to move because of horror or fear.

“The answer, according to the researchers, may have to do with a difference in the way intrusive memories are encoded into long-term memory.”

References: