Therapeutic Metaphors Enhance Memory Systems in Mental Health Contexts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Psychotherapeutic memory plays an important role in maintaining therapeutic effects; however, the neural mechanisms of therapeutic metaphor promoting long-term memory were still unknown.

Objective

This study used metaphorical micro-counseling dialog scenarios to investigate the memory effect of therapeutic metaphor and correlated neural mechanisms.

Methods

At first, 31 participants read a mental distress problem, followed by a metaphorical or a literal solution, while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning during the encoding phase. One week later, a recognition memory test was performed outside the scanner.

Results

The results revealed that metaphorical solutions were associated with higher insight experiences and better memory pe

SUBMITTER: Yu F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11743976 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature