Individual differences in spatial configuration learning predict the occurrence of intrusive memories

Abstract

The dual-representation model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Brewin, Gregory, Lipton, & Burgess, Psychological Review, 117, 210-232 2010) argues that intrusions occur when people fail to construct context-based representations during adverse experiences. The present study tested a specific prediction flowing from this model. In particular, we investigated whether the efficiency of temporal-lobe-based spatial configuration learning would account for individual differences in intrusive experiences and physiological reactivity in the laboratory. Participants (N 0 82) completed the contextual cuing paradigm, which assesses spatial configuration learning that is believed to depend on associative encoding in the parahippocampus. They were then shown a trauma film. Afterward, startle responses were quantified during presentation of trauma reminder pictures versus unrelated neutral and emotional pictures. PTSD symptoms were recorded in the week following participation. Better configuration learning performance was associated with fewer perceptual intrusions, r 0 −.33, p < .01, but was unrelated to physiological responses to trauma reminder images (ps > .46) and had no direct effect on intrusion-related distress and overall PTSD symptoms, rs > −.12, ps > .29. However, configuration learning performance tended to be associated with reduced physiological responses to unrelated negative images, r 0 −.20, p 0 .07. Thus, while spatial configuration learning appears to be unrelated to affective responding to trauma reminders, our overall findings support the idea that the context-based memory system helps to reduce intrusions.

Acute stress differentially affects spatial configuration learning in high and low cortisol-responding healthy adults

“…In accordance with the Gilbertson et al (2007) and Bisby et al (2010) studies, a recent study by Meyer et al (in press) demonstrated that intrusions after viewing a trauma film were related to worse implicit spatial configuration learning in a contextual cueing paradigm (Chun & Jian, 1998). This paradigm measures the degree to which spatial configurations of multiple simple cues are bound in memory, which depends crucially on structures in the medial temporal lobe (Chun & Phelps, 1999; Manns & Squire, 2001).…”

“…In addition to inhibiting the retrieval of trauma memories, cortisol might enhance adaptive information processing associated with spatial configuration learning. Relevant to this, Meyer et al (in press) recently found that superior performance on the SCCT was negatively correlated with intrusions in healthy participants who had viewed a trauma film. Although it is not yet clear in what way implicit visuo-spatial learning would help to reduce intrusions, it might thus reflect information processing that is relevant to the formation of contextualized trauma memories.…”

“…Recent evidence shows that human spatial processing and learning is also affected by stress (Taverniers et al, 2011, in press) and might be involved in PTSD symptoms (Bisby et al, 2010; Gilbertson et al, 2007; Meyer et al, in press). The current study demonstrates that stress affects implicit visuo-spatial learning relying on structures in the parahippocampus, whereby the level of endogenous cortisol secretion appeared to moderate the effect of stress on learning performance.…”

“…Similar to Meyer et al (in press), we used the abbreviated Spatial Contextual Cueing Task (SCCT) developed by Bennett and colleagues (2009). Each SCCT administration consisted of 30 blocks with 12 trials, 6 of which had repeated arrays, while 6 had novel arrays.…”

Learning, memory and brain plasticity in posttraumatic stress disorder: Context matters

“…Likewise, Meyer et al (2013) observed a close relationship between configuration learning performance and perceptual intrusions in healthy humans who viewed a traumatic film. Since extinction learning is context-specific (Bouton et al, 2006), the lack of extinction of the traumatic implicit memory trace might be related to this contextual deficit.…”