The hippocampus and the amygdala are two brain structures that encode memory. The Hippocampus and the Amygdala: Encoding and Consolidating Memory The brain has learned “this is important, remember this because it could later save your life.” To understand this more fully it is necessary to look at two key brain structures, the hippocampus and the amygdala. However, after being traumatized certain central events may be remembered forever and this is an adaptive outcome. Memories of trauma are like normal memories in these respects, but they have important characteristics that make them much different from normal, everyday memories. Our brain-based memory systems have been sculpted to function adaptively. (Dudai, 2002) Additionally, over time memory works to edit information, and we lose memories, forget some details of memories we do retain, and modify aspects of other memories as the result of repeated retrievals. Memory retrieval refers to “the access, selection, reactivation, or reconstruction of stored internal representations”. This differential focus is what memory scientists refer to as central versus peripheral details. When encoding an event, we focus more attention on aspects that our brain appraises as important and less on those deemed insignificant. There are three main ways in which information can be encoded: visual, acoustic and semantic. Then we convert the information so it can be stored in various parts of the brain. Three processes are involved in memory: encoding, storage, and recall.įirst we receive the information (e.g., from what we see, hear, and understand). Memory is essentially the capacity for storing and retrieving information. As a result, we recall and narrate traumatic events differently than routine events. Our memories are fallible and have gaps and inconsistencies. It is well known within the scientific and psychological communities that human memory and recall do not function like a tape recorder, faithfully recording events later to be recalled on command. However, traumatic events such as sexual assaults, are encoded (converted) differently than more routine, everyday experiences in life. “One of the most critical contributors to achieving just outcomes in cases is eliciting the most complete and accurate information from the primary source of evidence – the complainant.” (Westera, Zydervelt, Kaladelfos, & Zajac, 2017, p. People often assume and expect that we will be able to recollect major events in our lives with clear and unwavering accuracy and that this determines the “truth” of what happened. PART III – How Trauma Affects Memory and Recall The Impact of Trauma on Adult Sexual Assault Victims
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