Memory, Interrupted: A Retrieval Model of Intrusive Memories, Recovery Trajectories, and Neurobiological Effects in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/rwz6u
• Publication Date: 2021-11-04T15:56:20Z
• Authors: Andrea Stocco; Briana M Smith; Emma PeConga; Lori Zoellner
• Keywords: Traumatic memories; Traumatic stress; Autobiographical Memory

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric often characterized by the unwanted re-experiencing of traumatic event through nightmares, flashbacks, and/or intrusive memories. This paper presents neurocomputational model using ACT-R cognitive architecture that simulates memory retrieval following potentially (PTE) and derives predictions about an individual’s recovery trajectory, behavioral symptoms, neurological effects. Memory intrusions were captured in framework weighting prior probability re-encoding emotional intensity term I, which captures degree to was perceived as dangerous or traumatic. A series simulations run performed retrievals under naturalistic conditions for up two months after experiencing simulated PTE. It found I had significant effect on PTE, that, different conditions, experienced probabilities undergoing trajectories.