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EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND SUMMARY:
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMORY AND RECALLING TRAUMATIC MEMORIES
What is autobiographical memory?

Autobiographical memory (AM) refers to memories of events from our own personal lives (e.g., family life, grade 9 math class, adopting a pet, etc.). These memories are stored in a number of interconnected brain structures called the “autobiographical network”.  For all of us, the easiest type of AM to recall, and also the most vivid, seems to be those that involve intense, negative emotions (e.g., fear, humiliation).  As a result, it may be easy to see how the AM network could be especially important to consider when studying PTSD – a disorder in which people experience vivid, intrusive, traumatic memories about life events. 

 

Unfortunately, there isn’t much research on the differences in AM networks between people with and without PTSD, and how these differences might impact certain memory functions (e.g., retrieval and re-experiencing of memories).  We’re hoping to change this.

A meta-analysis: How does brain activity differ in people with and without PTSD?

Thome J, Terpou BA, McKinnon MC, Lanius RA. The neural correlates of trauma‐related autobiographical memory in posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta‐analysis. Depress Anxiety. 2019;1–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22977

Our goal in writing this paper was to better understand any differences in the autobiographical networks of people with and without PTSD.  To do this, we compiled information from a number of different studies (i.e., we did a “meta-analysis”). 

 

Not surprisingly, our meta-analysis found different patterns of brain activity when comparing people with and without PTSD.  Specifically, when compared to people without PTSD, those with PTSD showed less activity in brain areas that help control retrieval of memories.  This might help explain why people with PTSD experience so many intrusive memories.  Further, people in the PTSD group showed more activity in brain areas that play a role in visual imagery of personal memories.  This could help explain why PTSD-related intrusive memories are typically so vivid, sometimes feeling as if they’re being relived, rather than simply remembered. Both of these differences would contribute to the emotional overwhelm typically seen in PTSD. 

 

Knowing these neurological differences, it may be important to consider PTSD treatments that help regulate brain activity (e.g., neurofeedback – see our neurofeedback section for more insights on this fascinating treatment).

Autobiographical memory
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