Understanding Memory: How It Works and Its Relationship with Trauma

Memory is a fascinating and complex aspect of human cognition that plays a vital role in our everyday lives. It allows us to learn from experiences, remember our loved ones, and navigate the world. However, when it comes to traumatic experiences, memory can become tangled and difficult to understand. This guide aims to provide a general overview of how memory works and how it relates to trauma.

How Memory Works

Memory is generally divided into three main stages: encoding, storage, and retrieval.

1. Encoding: This is the first step in creating a memory. Encoding involves taking in information from our senses (sight, sound, touch, etc.) and converting it into a format that can be processed and stored in the brain. This can happen consciously, like when we study for a test, or unconsciously, like when we remember the smell of the cookies our grandmother used to make during childhood as we walk by a bakery. 
2. Storage: Once information is encoded, it is stored in the brain. Memories can be categorized into different types:
   • Short-term Memory: This is temporary storage for information that is not processed deeply, like remembering a phone number for a few seconds.
   • Long-term Memory: This type of memory involves more permanent storage. Long-term memories can last from days to a lifetime and include everything from facts and figures to personal experiences.
3. Retrieval: This is the process of accessing stored memories. Retrieval happens naturally, like remembering a friend’s birthday, or intentionally, when we recall information for a test. Not all memories can be retrieved easily; some may fade or become fragmented over time.

Different Types of Memory 

Explicit Memory

Explicit memory is a conscious, intentional recollection of factual information, previous experiences and concepts. 

• Semantic memory: The memory of general knowledge and facts. 
  • How does trauma affect semantic memory? Trauma can prevent information (like words, images, sounds, etc.) from different parts of the brain from combining to make a semantic memory.
• Episodic memory: Autobiographical memory of an event or experience (the who, what, and where)
  • How does trauma affect episodic memory? Trauma can shut down episodic memory and fragment the sequence of events. For some victim-survivors, recalling a traumatic event can be significantly delayed from when the event took place. For others, they may be able to recall every detail of the event. 

Implicit Memory

Implicit memory is a recollection acquired and used unconsciously that can affect thoughts and behaviors. 

• Procedural memory: The memory of how to perform a common task without actively thinking about it. 
  • How does trauma affect procedural memory? Trauma can change patterns of procedural memory for example, a person might tense up and unconsciously alter their posture, which could lead to pain. 
• Emotional memory: The memory of the emotions you felt during an experience. 
  • How does trauma affect emotional memory? After trauma, a person may get triggered and experience painful emotions, often without context.

The Role of Emotions in Memory

Emotions play a crucial role in how memories are formed and retrieved. Our brains are wired to attach emotional significance to experiences, which can influence how well we remember them. For example, people often have a clearer recall of events that are emotionally charged, whether they are positive or negative. Alternatively, people often can have difficulty remembering emotionally charged events. 

Researchers have found that the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in processing emotions, interacts with the hippocampus, which is critical for forming new memories. This connection helps to explain why traumatic memories can be vivid and persistent; the emotional weight associated with trauma can enhance memory encoding and retrieval, sometimes leading to intrusive thoughts and flashbacks.

Key Terms Related to Memory and Trauma

1. Maladaptive Memory Storage: This refers to how some traumatic memories may become stored in the brain in a way that is not beneficial, leading to problematic emotional responses and behaviors. Instead of being integrated into a coherent narrative, these memories may remain fragmented and unprocessed.
2. Unprocessed Memories: These are memories that have not been adequately integrated into an individual’s broader life narrative. Unprocessed memories often lead to ongoing distress and can manifest as intrusive thoughts or flashbacks, preventing individuals from moving forward from the traumatic experience.
3. Distressing Memories: These memories evoke significant emotional pain or discomfort. Distressing memories can provoke feelings of fear, sadness, guilt, or shame, making them difficult to confront and process.
4. Processing Memories: This term refers to the mental and emotional work involved in integrating experiences into one’s life. Effective processing allows individuals to understand and contextualize their experiences, leading to healing and reduced emotional distress.
5. Memory Reconsolidation: This is the process through which previously stored memories become reactivated and can be modified. When a memory is recalled, it enters a malleable state, allowing for it to be altered. This is particularly relevant in the context of trauma, as therapies that facilitate memory reconsolidation aim to help individuals reprocess traumatic memories, leading to reduced distress associated with those memories.

Memory and Trauma

Trauma can significantly affect memory in several ways:

1. Fragmented Memories: After a traumatic event, individuals may find it difficult to recall details of the experience, leading to fragmented memories. Some aspects may be vividly remembered, while others seem lost or hazy. This can make it challenging for individuals to process their experiences fully.
2. Intrusive Memories: Trauma can lead to persistent, unwanted memories. These can occur suddenly and without warning, causing significant distress. This phenomenon is often associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where an individual relives the trauma as if it were happening again.
3. Avoidance: In an effort to cope with the pain associated with traumatic memories, individuals might try to avoid thinking about the event altogether. This avoidance can make it harder to process the trauma and can lead to increased anxiety and other emotional difficulties.
4. Distorted Memories: Trauma can sometimes alter an individual’s perception of the event. Memory distortions may occur, such as exaggerated feelings of guilt or shame associated with the trauma. This can lead individuals to blame themselves or perceive the event differently from how it truly happened.