Researchers exploring the brain structures involved in recalling an emotional memory a year later have found evidence for a self-reinforcing 'memory loop' -- in which the brain's emotional center triggers the memory center, which in turn further enhances activity in the emotional center.
The researchers said their findings suggest why people subject to traumatic events may be trapped in a cycle of emotion and recall that aggravates post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They said their findings also suggest why therapies in which people relive such memories and reshape perspective to make it less traumatic can help people cope with such memories.
The paper by Florin Dolcos, Kevin LaBar and Roberto Cabeza, was published online February 9, 2005, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers are in Duke University's Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Brain Imaging and Analysis Center. Their work was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
'This study is the first to really test recall of emotional memories after a long time period,' said Cabeza. 'Previous studies had only allowed a short time interval, for example minutes, between encoding of the memory and retrieval. Hence, they could not distinguish between the process called consolidation -- in which memories are being established -- and retrieval. Also, they did not distinguish between true recollection of a memory and a vague familiarity. In memory studies, it's very important to distinguish between these two phenomena,' he said.
myRemarks; I wonder if a lot of our/my memory loss is a result of trying to break this cycle? Could conciously and actively trying to suppress unwanted memories block out the good stuff too?
I believe that my subconcious suppresses my memories of having dreamed. I was having more nightMares than 'normal' dreams, so I suppress all memories of any dreams now.
I used to believe that I just didn't dream at all. (Unless going on or off medications) My waking up in cold sweats, shaking, with feelings of foreboding, sadness, or remorse. Plus, my partners telling me that I was talking, yelling, moaning, and thrashing around in my sleep. And, my research about dreaming has convinced me otherwise.
