How Traumatic Memories Are Processed in the Brain

Why Trauma Feels So Raw: Study Suggests Traumatic Memories Live in the Present

Have you ever wondered why traumatic events can feel so vivid and intrusive, even years later? A recent study published in the New York Times on December 5, 2023, sheds light on this phenomenon. Researchers at Yale University found that traumatic memories are processed differently in the brain compared to regular memories.

The study involved individuals diagnosed with PTSD. When recalling everyday experiences, their brain activity showed a high degree of synchronicity. However, when prompted with memories of their traumas, their brain patterns became fragmented and individualized. This suggests that traumatic memories aren’t stored and retrieved like regular memories. Instead, the brain might be reliving the event in the present moment. In addition, trauma is held in the cell of the body as well as the brain.

This finding helps explain the hallmark symptoms of PTSD, such as flashbacks and nightmares. It’s no wonder these memories feel so real – the brain isn’t processing them as past events, but rather as ongoing threats.

What does this mean for treatment?

Understanding how the brain encodes trauma could lead to more effective treatments for PTSD. Therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Brainspotting already aim to help individuals reprocess traumatic memories. This new research might pave the way for improved treatments that target the specific brain mechanisms involved.

The study also explains why treatments such as Exposure therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness and Meditation can exacerbate symptoms. During these treatments, patients feel as though they are reliving the trauma vs processing it.

This study is a  step forward in our understanding of trauma and its effects on the brain. With further research, we can develop even better methods to help people heal and move forward from their experiences.