The worst and the best memories: Interaction between opposite valence autobiographical memories

Villa Carlos Paz

Congreso; XXIV Reunión Anual SAN 2019; 2019

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

After reactivation, a previously consolidated memory can enter into a labile state followed by a re-stabilization process defined as reconsolidation. Autobiographical negative memories can be modified following reactivation by the presentation of a positive audiovisual interference, only in women The aim of the present study was to explore if the retrieval of a positive autobiographical memory (the best memory) can interfere the reconsolidation process of a negative autobiographical memory (the worst memory) retrieved before. On day 1, participants' "worst memories" were retrieved and 5 min later they retrieved the best memory (WM+BM group). The control group (WM) retrieved only the best memory. Seven days later all subjects were tested.The presentation of a second event (the best memory) interferes with the emotional expression of the worst memories, only in women. In sum, we found that a positive emotional experience induced by the retrieval of the best memory, after a negative autobiographical memory reactivation, may lead to a change in the emotional information of the original trace and that such effect can be mediated by the reconsolidation process. These results suggest that a positive emotional induction may be potential psychotherapeutic techniques for the modification of dysfunctional autobiographical memories.