title: Memory control ability modulates intrusive memories after analogue trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most people suffer from intrusive memories in the aftermath of trauma. For survivors' well-being, it is key that these intrusions are controlled. Memory control can be exerted through retrieval suppression. Poor retrieval suppression, however, should be associated with persistent distressing intrusions and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study tested the hypothesis that individual differences in retrieval suppression predict intrusive memories after trauma. Retrieval suppression was examined with the think/no-think task (TNT) using behavioral and event related potential (ERP) measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four healthy participants watched a "traumatic" film after performing the TNT task. The frequency and distress of intrusions from the "traumatic" film was measured with an electronic diary. Additionally the Impact of Event Scale (IES) was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In line with our hypothesis, behavioral measures of retrieval suppression ability predicted reduced distress ratings for intrusions (r=-.53, p<.01). Further ERP markers of retrieval suppression (a fronto-centrally distributed N2) predicted reduced distress ratings for intrusions (r=-.45, p<.05) and reduced IES Intrusion scores (r=-.56, p<.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented film is a relatively mild stressor as compared to a real-life trauma. Further studies are needed to explore the role of memory control processes for real-life trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants with lower retrieval suppression ability exhibited less distressing intrusive memories after analogue trauma. The ERP correlate of retrieval suppression was associated with less distressing intrusive memories and reduced IES Intrusion scores, suggesting that deficient memory control is a potential risk factor for developing PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Streb
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrucken, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mecklinger
authors.affiliation: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Behavioural and Clinical Neurosciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrucken, Germany.
authors.forename: Lass-Hennemann
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Johanna
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrucken, Germany. Electronic address: t.michael@mx.uni-saarland.de.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michael
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Inhibitory control; Intrusive memories; Memory suppression; PTSD; Prospective design; Trauma