Computer Game Play Reduces Intrusive Memories of Experimental Trauma via Reconsolidation-Update Mechanisms

Abstract

Memory of a traumatic event becomes consolidated within hours. Intrusive memories can then flash back repeatedly into the mind's eye and cause distress. We investigated whether reconsolidation-the process during which memories become malleable when recalled-can be blocked using a cognitive task and whether such an approach can reduce these unbidden intrusions. We predicted that reconsolidation of a reactivated visual memory of experimental trauma could be disrupted by engaging in a visuospatial task that would compete for visual working memory resources. We showed that intrusive memories were virtually abolished by playing the computer game Tetris following a memory-reactivation task 24 hr after initial exposure to experimental trauma. Furthermore, both memory reactivation and playing Tetris were required to reduce subsequent intrusions (Experiment 2), consistent with reconsolidation-update mechanisms. A simple, noninvasive cognitive-task procedure administered after emotional memory has already consolidated (i.e., > 24 hours after exposure to experimental trauma) may prevent the recurrence of intrusive memories of those emotional events.

Keywords: computer game; emotion; intrusions; intrusive memory; involuntary memory; mental imagery; open data; open materials; reconsolidation; trauma film.

Fig. 1.

Results from Experiment 1: mean number of intrusive memories recorded in the diary during the first 24 hr following viewing of the experimental trauma film (i.e., preintervention; a), mean number of intrusive memories recorded in the diary totaled over the 7-day period after the intervention (b), and mean score on the intrusion-provocation task on Day 7 (c). In each graph, results are shown separately for the two groups. Asterisks indicate a significant difference between groups (**p < .001). Error bars represent +1 SEM.

Fig. 2.

Results from Experiment 1: frequency scatter plots showing the time course of the mean number of intrusive memories reported in the diary daily from Day 0 (prior to intervention) to Day 7, separately for the two groups. Note that the intervention was on Day 1. The solid lines are the results of a generalized additive model (see Equation 1). The size of the bubbles represents the number of participants who reported the indicated number of intrusive memories on that particular day.

Fig. 3.

Results of the time-series analysis in Experiment 1: Poisson distribution of the predicted likelihood of intrusive memories in the no-task control group (top row) and the reactivation-plus-Tetris group (bottom row), separately for Day 0, Day 1, and Day 2.

Fig. 4.

Results from Experiment 2: mean number of intrusive memories recorded in the diary during the first 24 hr following viewing of the experimental trauma film (i.e., preintervention; a), mean number of intrusive memories recorded in the diary across totaled over the 7-day period after the intervention (b), and mean score on the intrusion-provocation task on Day 7 (c). In each graph, results are shown separately for the four groups. Asterisks indicate that results for the reactivation-plus-Tetris group were significantly different from results for the other three groups (*p < .01). Error bars represent +1 SEM.

Fig. 5.

Results from Experiment 2: frequency scatter plots showing the time course of the number of intrusive memories reported in the diary daily from Day 0 (prior to intervention) to Day 7, separately for the four groups. Note that the intervention was on Day 1. The solid lines show the results of a generalized additive model in which the three control groups (no-task control, Tetris only, and reactivation only) were fitted with the same line (see Equation 1). The size of the bubbles represents the number of participants who reported the indicated number of intrusive memories on that particular day.

Fig. 6.

Results of the time-series analysis in Experiment 2: Poisson distribution of the predicted likelihood of intrusive memories in the combined control group (no-task control, Tetris only, and reactivation only; top row) and the reactivation-plus-Tetris group (bottom row), separately for Day 0, Day 1, and Day 2.