Dual-tasking during recall of negative memories or during visual perception of images: Effects on vividness and emotionality

Anne A Cuperus; Maarten Laken; Kevin van Schie; Iris M Engelhard; Marcel A van den Hout

doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.10.003

Dual-tasking during recall of negative memories or during visual perception of images: Effects on vividness and emotionality

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2019 Mar:62:112-116. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.10.003. Epub 2018 Oct 6.

Authors

Anne A Cuperus¹, Maarten Laken², Kevin van Schie³, Iris M Engelhard⁴, Marcel A van den Hout⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, the Netherlands; Triple, Keesomstraat 10e, 1821 BS, Alkmaar, the Netherlands. Electronic address: Acuperus@gmail.com.
² Servicehouse B.V., Utrechtseweg 31c, 3811 NA, Amersfoort, the Netherlands. Electronic address: laken.maarten@gmail.com.
³ Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: k.vanschie@essb.eur.nl.
⁴ Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80140, 3508 TC, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: i.m.engelhard@uu.nl.
⁵ Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80140, 3508 TC, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.a.hout@uu.nl.

PMID: 30316043
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.10.003

Abstract

Background and objectives: Several treatments are effective in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. We tested the effectiveness of an experimental intervention that consists of elements from two of these: virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. The latter is characterized by a dual-task approach: the patient holds a traumatic memory in mind while simultaneously making voluntary eye movements, resulting in reduced vividness and emotionality of the traumatic memory. If the experimental intervention is effective, it could provide a useful approach for highly avoidant individuals.

Methods: Participants recalled negative memories induced by a VR paradigm. The experimental group viewed VR screenshots that represented these negative memories while carrying out a dual-task. One control group recalled negative memories while carrying out the same dual-task (a standard dual-task condition) and another merely viewed the VR screenshots. Pre-to-post changes in self-rated memory vividness/emotionality were measured.

Results: The results indicate that viewing a screenshot only was outperformed by both dual-task interventions in terms of reductions in vividness/emotionality. Furthermore, the dual-task interventions had a comparable impact on vividness, but the screenshot variant led to greater decreases in emotionality.

Limitations: Changes in memory vividness/emotionality were only assessed shortly after the interventions and no measures of avoidance behavior were included in the study.

Conclusions: Looking at an image in VR that represents a memory while carrying out a dual-task may be at least as effective as recalling the memory during the dual-task. Interestingly, visually supporting a negative memory does not seem to prevent memory degrading by dual-tasking.

Keywords: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing; Virtual reality exposure; Virtual reality paradigm.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Emotions / physiology*
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing*
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Recall / physiology*
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy*
Virtual Reality*
Visual Perception / physiology*
Young Adult