title: Perceptual processing during trauma, priming and the development of intrusive memories.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intrusive reexperiencing in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly triggered by stimuli with perceptual similarity to those present during the trauma. Information processing theories suggest that perceptual processing during the trauma and enhanced perceptual priming contribute to the easy triggering of intrusive memories by these cues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers (N = 51) watched neutral and trauma picture stories on a computer screen. Neutral objects that were unrelated to the content of the stories briefly appeared in the interval between the pictures. Dissociation and data-driven processing (as indicators of perceptual processing) and state anxiety during the stories were assessed with self-report questionnaires. After filler tasks, participants completed a blurred object identification task to assess priming and a recognition memory task. Intrusive memories were assessed with telephone interviews 2 weeks and 3 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neutral objects were more strongly primed if they occurred in the context of trauma stories than if they occurred during neutral stories, although the effect size was only moderate [Formula: see text] and only significant when trauma stories were presented first. Regardless of story order, enhanced perceptual priming predicted intrusive memories at 2-week follow-up (N = 51), but not at 3 months (n = 40). Data-driven processing, dissociation and anxiety increases during the trauma stories also predicted intrusive memories. Enhanced perceptual priming and data-driven processing were associated with lower verbal intelligence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is unclear to what extent these findings generalize to real-life traumatic events and whether they are specific to negative emotional events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide some support for the role of perceptual processing and perceptual priming in reexperiencing symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sündermann
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hauschildt
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehlers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003463:Cues; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D060865:Repetition Priming / Q000502:physiology*; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*