Positive emotional induction interferes with the reconsolidation of negative autobiographical memories, in women only

• Published in: Neurobiology of learning and memory Vol. 155; pp. 508 - 518
• Main Authors: Piñeyro, M., Ferrer Monti, R.I., Díaz, H., Bueno, A.M., Bustos, S.G., Molina, V.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2018
• Subjects: Autobiographical memory; Reconsolidation; Reconsolidation; Autobiographical memory
• ISSN: 1074-7427; 1095-9564
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.08.003

•Positive information could modify a negative autobiographical memory.•An autobiographical memory could be modified upon reconsolidation process.•Positive information may play a potential role in psychotherapeutic techniques. After reactivation, a previously consolidated memory can enter into a labile state followed by a re-stabilization process defined as reconsolidation. The aim of this study was to explore whether an existing negative autobiographical memory can be modified by using a non-invasive interference (audiovisual positive preparation) after reactivation and to determine if this effect could be dependent on the reconsolidation process. We found that the presentation of a positive inductor after a negative autobiographical memory reactivation may lead to a change in the emotional information of the original trace and that such effect can be mediated by the reconsolidation process. The modification of the memory has been shown in women only. These results suggest that a positive audiovisual induction may play a potential role in psychotherapeutic techniques for the modification of dysfunctional autobiographical memories.