Recovered Memory

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the mental faculty of recovered memory and the neurological mechanisms involved in retaining and recalling past experiences. It takes a particular look at the controversy among psychologists regarding repressed memory and whether or not it actually exists. The paper asserts that much scientific research supports the validity of repressed memory. The paper also points out, however, that this research does not address whether repressed memories are true or false, such as in the case of testimonies when dealing with abuses or crimes. The paper concludes that such accounts should indeed be taken very seriously and should be critically examined in relation to other evidence.

From the Paper:

"False memories are memories that were distorted or even created within and outside of the therapeutic context. Patients with psychological distress see a therapist as a source of help in their search for an "effort at meaning" (Clansy, cited in Furtado, 2003). Patients' memory is extremely susceptible that the subtlest suggestion made by a doctor can alter or create false experiences such as memories of abuse. They can be created by the use of several techniques, such as recovered memory therapy, hypnosis, guided imagery, and dream interpretation (Davis, Loftus, & Follette, 2001). An experiment carried out by Dr. Nader and Dr. Shafe may give a neurobiological insight into how memories are updated. Using the fear conditioning process, they trained rats to associate a tone with an electric shock. Once the memory was consolidated, they presented the tone and immediately injected a drug that would inhibit the production of proteins. The fact that the animals reacted instead of freezing at the sound implied that the memories became vulnerable to suggestions, and that the production of new proteins were needed to store them back into long-term storage (Blakeslee, 2000)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anderson, M., Cooper, J., Gabrieli, J., Gabrieli, S., Glover, G., Kuhl, B., Ochsner, K., & Robertson, E. (2004, January 9). Neural systems underlying the suppression of unwanted memories. Science Magazine, Vol. 303, p. 232-235
• Blakeslee, S. (2000, September 19). Brain-updating machinery may explain false memories. The New York Times, p. F7.
• Bergman, E., & Roediger, H. (1998). The controversy over recovered memory. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, Vol. 4, No. 4, p.1091-1109
• Davis, D., Follette, W. & Loftus, E. (2001). Commentary: how, when, and whether to use informed consent for recovered memory therapy. The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Vol. 29, #2 p.148-159.
• Furtado, T. (2003, March/April). Recovered memory revised [Electronic version]. Psychotherapy Networker.

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