Allocentric spatial memory performance predicts intrusive memory severity in posttraumatic stress disorder.
Neurobiol Learn Mem
; 166: 107093, 2019 12.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31536787
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by distressing trauma-related memories. According to the dual representation theory, intrusive memories arise from strengthened egocentric encoding and a poor contextual encoding, with spatial context requiring allocentric processing. Contextualization of mental imagery is proposed to be formed hierarchically through the ventral visual stream (VVS) to the hippocampal formation. Here, we tested this notion by investigating whether neuronal aberrations in structures of the VVS or in the hippocampus, as well as allocentric memory performance are associated with intrusive memory severity.METHODS:
The sample comprised 33 women with PTSD due to childhood trauma. Allocentric memory performance was measured with the virtual Town Square Task and T1-weighted images acquired on a 3T Siemens Scanner. Intrusive memories were evoked by presenting an audio script describing parts of their trauma (script-driven imagery).RESULTS:
Using hierarchical linear regression analysis, we found a significant association between lower intrusive memory severity and higher allocentric spatial memory, controlling for age, working memory, and general visuospatial ability. No significant association was found between cortical thickness of VVS structures, hippocampal volume and intrusive memory severity. Post hoc exploratory analyses revealed a negative correlation between years since index trauma and left hippocampal volume.LIMITATIONS:
Our results are based on correlational analyses, causality cannot be inferred.CONCLUSION:
This study supports the dual representation theory, which emphasizes the role of allocentric spatial memory for the contextualization of mental imagery in PTSD. Clinical implications are discussed.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos
/
Memória Espacial
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Adultos Sobreviventes de Eventos Adversos na Infância
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Memória de Curto Prazo
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article