Effects of visuospatial tasks on desensitization to emotive memories

Objectives. Intrusive memories of extreme trauma can disrupt a stepwise app roach to imaginal exposure. Concurrent tasks that load the visuospatial ske tchpad (VSSP) of working memory reduce the vividness of recalled images. Th is study tested whether relief of distress from competing VSSP tasks during imaginal exposure is at the cost of impaired desensitization. Design. This study examined repeated exposure to emotive memories using 18 unselected undergraduates and a within-subjects design with three exposure conditions (Eye Movement, Visual Noise, Exposure Alone) in random, counterb alanced order. Method. At baseline, participants recalled positive and negative experience s, and rated the vividness and emotiveness of each image. A different posit ive and negative recollection was then used for each condition. Vividness a nd emotiveness were rated after each of eight exposure trials. At a post-ex posure session 1 week later, participants rated each image without any conc urrent task. Results. Consistent with previous research, vividness and distress during i maging were lower during Eye Movements than in Exposure Alone, with passive visual interference giving intermediate results. A reduction in emotional responses from Baseline to Post was of similar size for the three condition s. Conclusion. Visuospatial tasks may offer a temporary response aid for imagi nal exposure without affecting desensitization.