Neuromodulation of Visual Cortex Reduces the Intensity of Intrusive Memories.

ABSTRACT: Aversive events can be reexperienced as involuntary and spontaneous mental images of the event. Given that the vividness of retrieved mental images is coupled with elevated visual activation, we tested whether neuromodulation of the visual cortex would reduce the frequency and negative emotional intensity of intrusive memories. Intrusive memories of a viewed trauma film and their accompanied emotional intensity were recorded throughout 5 days. Functional connectivity, measured with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging prior to film viewing, was used as predictive marker for intrusions-related negative emotional intensity. Results indicated that an interaction between the visual network and emotion processing areas predicted intrusions' emotional intensity. To test the causal

SUBMITTER: Herz N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8754386 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature