Disruption Of Memory

Can Memories of Traumatic Experiences or Addiction Be Erased or Modified? A Critical Review of Research on the Disruption of Memory

30044012

PSYC 3039, Spring 2017

University of Louisiana at Monroe

May 5, 2017

Can Memories of Traumatic Experiences or Addiction Be Erased or Modified? A Critical Review of Research on the Disruption of Memory Reconsolidation and Its Applications

30044012

PSYC 3039, Spring 2017

University of Louisiana at Monroe

May 5, 2017

Abstract

Recent research suggests that the mere act of retrieving a memory can temporarily make that memory vulnerable to disruption. This process of “reconsolidation” will typically restabilize the neural representation of the memory and foster

Good and bad memories can affect our everyday lives for the rest of our lives, if they are severe. The journal article mainly talks about anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and PTSD. All of these disorders are the result of traumatic events that have occurred in someone’s past. The article uses the example of someone who has been sexually assaulted. Someone who has been sexually assaulted may grow up to have PTSD. People with substance use disorder, may use drugs because they are trying to numb the pain of something that happened in the past. All of these disorders occur because of pathological memories. These memories can be very hard erase. The authors of the article quoted a statement that states “Given that these disorders are characterized by pathological memories, the ability to disrupt or erase these memories would offer a significant advance in treatment” (Merlo, Milton, & Everett, 2015). Many treatments have been given, such as therapy and exposure therapy. These two things have not been really successful in the past. Extinction learning is another thing that researchers have tried to erase traumatic memories. During extinction learning, most of the patients’ symptoms returned and were worse than they were before. Cue-exposure therapy was used to treat people who had substance use disorders. The

In order for a memory to become extinct, a new memory must form. The journal article uses the example of the pairings of tone a shock. In the extinction example, the tone is presented, but without the shock. In order for the tone to result in the extinction of a memory, it depends on many boundary conditions. It also depends on whether the memory becomes reconsolidated. The articles explains that reconsolidation modifies the original memory trace. During extinction another memory trace is formed. The article quotes that “The long-term efficacy of extinction is contingent upon retrieving and generalizing the extinction memory to new contexts and stimuli while inhibiting the original memory (Craske et al., 2008, 2012; Vervliet, Craske, & Hermans, 2013, 5). I thought that that statement was really helpful in explaining the extinction of a memory because, it explains what needs to happen in order for the memory to undergo