Visuospatial context learning and configuration learning is associated with analogue traumatic intrusions
Open accessAbstract
Background and objectives Cognitive and information processing theories of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) assert that trauma intrusions are characterized by poor contextual embedding of visuospatial memories. Therefore, efficient encoding of visuospatial contextual information might protect against intrusions. We tested this idea using indices of visuospatial memory embedding along with the trauma film paradigm.Methods Individual differences in spatial configuration learning, as well as the degree to which visual recognition memory depends on its visual encoding context (i.e., memory contextualization), were assessed in 81 healthy participants. Next, participants viewed a distressing film. Intrusions and other PTSD analogue symptoms were assessed subsequently.Results Participants displaying stronger memory contextualization developed fewer intrusions and PTSD analogue symptoms. Spatial configuration learning was unrelated to memory contextualization and, contrary to prior findings, predicted higher levels of intrusions.Limitations Due to the analogue design, our findings may not translate directly to clinical populations. Furthermore, due to the correlational design of the study, causal relations remain to be tested.Conclusions Our results suggest a protective role for the ability to integrate memories in their original visual learning context against the development of PTSD symptoms.
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- Authors
- Meyer, T., Krans, J., van Ast, V., & Smeets, T.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Meyer, Thomas
- Venue
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-03
- Volume
- 54
- Pages
- 120-127
- ISSN
- 0005-7916 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2498082040
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 4.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion)
- Lirias (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Clinical Psychological Science
- Funders
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (056-25-011)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, visuospatial memory, visual recognition memory, trauma film paradigm
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Analysis of Variance, Female, Humans, Individuality, Learning, Male, Memory, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Photic Stimulation, Reaction Time, Space Perception, Statistics as Topic, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Young Adult
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