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Researchers Find They Can Weaken Fear Memories, a Discovery That Could Help Treat Trauma
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Researchers Find They Can Weaken Fear Memories, a Discovery That Could Help Treat Trauma

TexasA&M University researched have had a study published in Nature Neuroscience showing a new way to help people suffering trauma.

Health

Scientists could be a step closer to finding a way to reduce the impact of traumatic memories, according to a new study.

Stephen Maren, professor of psychological and brain sciences at Texas A&M University, said the group’s findings suggest that procedures used by clinicians to indirectly reactivate traumatic memories render a window whereby those memories can be altered, or even erased completely.

In therapy, imaginal reminders are often used to safely retrieve traumatic memories of experiences. For example, Maren said a military veteran wounded by an improvised explosive device may be asked to re-experience trauma cues—like the lights and sounds of the explosion—without the negative consequences. The idea is that the fear responses can be dampened through this exposure therapy.