George Santayan said, “Memory itself is an internal rumor ( The Life of Reason).” Well, the rumor is out. Neuroscience research indicates that as we remember an event our recollection of that event actually changes.
Until recently, neuroscience has considered memories static. They believed that protein synthesis aided in the process of creating a long term memory which was termed consolidation and that memory was static. Recalling a memory, involved remembering it in its original form. For example, the brain fires a neuron containing information about the event and a neuron containing an emotional response binds together to form a memory.
They investigated fear responses in humans using nonpharmacological disruptions to a previously learned fear response. When the participant’s fear response to a situation was reflexive (like a knee jerk response), they introduced a safe condition and measured how the new information was processed. Their research indicates that memory is anything but static and that not only is the “consolidation” process occurring for new memories but that when we retrieve a memory we “reconsolidate” the old memory. “In other words, our memory reflects our last retrieval of it rather than an exact account of the original event.” Therefore, the participants remembered the fear response; however they did not have the reactive emotional memory of it.
How is this relevant other than in an argument with a significant other?
Lead researcher, Dr. Daniela Schiller said in an interview, “Our research suggests that during the lifetime of a memory there are windows of opportunity where it becomes susceptible to being permanently changed. By understanding the dynamics of memory we might, in the long run, open new avenues of treatment for disorders that involve abnormal emotional memories.”
Furthermore the implications of this study could have drastic outcomes in how we evaluate the major tenants of psychotherapy. For example, “providing a safe holding environment” for clients to describe their stories to someone who has a different perspective, response, and or level of genuine care will alter the telling of and or remembering the story. Other implications could include the effects of mindfulness or mental training (MBSR) in which people teach themselves to experience their thoughts without reacting, or judging. As someone said “what fires together, binds together, so it is our job to work on how we experience our thoughts and that takes practice.”
Written by: Julie Barbour, LCSW owner and founder of Clinical Hour, LLC
The paper referenced in this article:
Schiller, D., Monfils, M.H., Raio, C.M, Johnson, D.C., Ledoux, J.E. & Phelps, E.A. (7 January 2010). Preventing the return of fear in humans using reconsolidation update mechanisms. Nature 463, 49-53. Retrieved from: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7277/full/nature08637.html
Disclaimer
This article is intended for an audience that does not necessarily have a medical background. The terminology and explanation of processes discussed in this document are not precisely congruent with neuroscience nomenclature.
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