Emotional events are more memorable: Our brains prioritize encoding emotionally charged experiences.
Example: Remembering a car accident vividly compared to a parked car.
Adaptive function: This helps us learn from significant life events.
Examples: Falling in love, birth of a child, loss of a loved one.
Trauma and Memory
Trauma and sensory details: Traumatic events are often linked to specific sensory cues (sights, sounds, smells).
PTSD: Re-exposure to these cues can trigger intense emotional responses.
This process involves the body’s sympathetic nervous system.
Treatment: Beta-Blockers
Reducing emotional response: Beta-blockers can dampen the physical symptoms of anxiety and arousal.
Memory reconsolidation: By experiencing the trauma-related cues without the intense emotional response, individuals can potentially form new, less distressing memories.
Potential for treatment: This approach offers hope for individuals suffering from PTSD.