Not a lie, but a brain reaction: scientists have revealed the impact of trauma on memories
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- Not a lie, but a brain reaction: scientists have revealed the impact of trauma on memories
People who have experienced trauma often talk about what happened inconsistently: it can be difficult for them to remember details, events can mix up, and individual fragments of memories contradict each other. Because of this, others sometimes question the authenticity of the story. However, a study published in the journal Medical Xpress explains that the features of memory and behavior after injury have an explanation in terms of brain function. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
Why does the brain remember traumatic events differently
According to the World Health Organization, about 70% of people worldwide report having ever experienced a traumatic event. However, most of them do not experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Post-traumatic stress disorder is accompanied by symptoms such as nightmares and memories of an event, avoidance of places that remind of it, as well as increased excitability, which can interfere with concentration and sleep. Many trauma survivors do not meet the criteria for PTSD, but they experience anxiety, depression, or severe stress.
In a traumatic situation, a person may also react differently than others expect. This is especially true for people who have experienced trauma repeatedly. Research shows that traumatic memories are different from memories of other significant events, such as sad or positive ones.
At least two brain structures are involved in the formation and storage of such memories: the hippocampus, which is responsible for storing memories, and the amygdala, which is associated with processing emotions. When experiencing trauma, the amygdala becomes especially active, processing fear, among other things, and the hippocampus becomes overloaded with stress. This can make it difficult for the memory to be preserved properly.
Why can't a person run away and resist
A traumatic memory does not necessarily form as a coherent story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. A person can remember individual sensations, emotions, smells, or images, which remain fragmented fragments. At the same time, the body is able to perceive a past threat as if it were happening right now.
Such a reaction can trigger a desire to run away or resist — classic "hit or run" reactions. But a person can freeze. During the stupor reaction, consciousness seems to be blocked, and sometimes a person is unable to speak and looks outwardly motionless.
There is also a lesser—known reaction, the so-called fawn response. In this case, a person can remain calm, try to please someone who poses a threat, and behave in a way that reduces the likelihood of further escalation. Therefore, after a traumatic episode, a person is able to continue their usual actions, not report what happened, or even doubt whether it really happened.
Why can memories become even more confusing?
Others may take unusual behavior as a sign that there was no traumatic event at all, or decide that the survivor is unreliable. However, such conclusions are based on the idea of how a person "should" behave and what exactly "should" remember after an injury.
If the traumatic experience was the first, the person is likely to experience fear, confusion, or a state of heightened alertness after it. But if similar situations have already occurred before, a new event can simultaneously trigger memories of previous experiences. This can confuse impressions even more and make it difficult to reproduce what happened later, especially under stress.
The problem becomes especially noticeable when a person talks about what happened or testifies against someone who harmed him. The very process of remembering in such a situation can be accompanied by severe stress, especially if the alleged culprit is indoors. The feeling that the event is happening right now, rather than being left in the past, can make the story even more fragmented. At the same time, the emotional reaction can be either very strong or, conversely, detached, depending on the person's reaction to the injury.
What can change the attitude towards survivors of trauma?
Experts emphasize the importance of a trauma-informed approach — an attitude based not on judgment and critical assessment, but on the desire to understand a person's experience. Research shows that understanding the specifics of trauma and mental health is associated with greater empathy for survivors of traumatic experiences.
This approach is already used in some medical institutions, where its task is to prevent repeated injury and create a sense of security. Even the choice of words can play an important role: careful attention to wording helps to provide assistance without blaming the victim. A similar principle applies to the legal and judicial systems — inconsistency of a story should not automatically be equated with a lie.
Trauma-An informed approach is also important in everyday life — in friendships, close relationships, and at work. Patience and empathy help create a sense of respect, security, and trust, which in turn can reduce distress and support a person's recovery. Understanding how trauma affects the brain allows you to see the natural reaction of the injured body behind seemingly contradictory actions and helps survivors of trauma to better understand their own reactions.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
