Traumatic Memories

A Neuroscience Perspective

Authors

  • Homayoun Shahri

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30820/0743-4804-2017-27-49

Keywords:

Amygdala, Hippocampus, Prefrontal Cortex, Traumatic memories, Neuroscience, Therapeutic Relationship, Attunement

Abstract

In this paper, a detailed description of formation of memory based on neuroscience is given. Different types of memories are reviewed, and definitions of repressed memories and dissociated memories are introduced. Formation of dissociated memories, as well as mechanisms of repression of memory, based on recent fMRI studies and neuroscience research, are discussed. It is argued that traumatic memories frequently have dissociated aspects and repressed aspects. It is concluded and shown, based on recent research in neuroscience, that regardless of the nature of traumatic memories, a very important factor in treatment of trauma is the attuned therapist and the therapeutic relationship. Finally, two case studies are presented to highlight the arguments set forth in this paper.

Author Biography

Homayoun Shahri

Homayoun Shahri, Ph.D., M.A., LMFT, received his PhD in electrical engineering from Lehigh University in 1990, and his master of arts in clinical and somatic psychology from Santa Barbara Graduate Institute (now part of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology) in 2012. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and has a private practice in Irvine, CA, USA. Homayoun completed the Bioenergetic training program in the Florida Society for Bioenergetic Analysis in 2009. He is a member of the Southern California Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis (SCIBA), where he is working toward the completion of his certification requirements. Homayoun is a member of the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy (USABP), International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis (IIBA), and California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). He is on the peer review board of the International Body Psychotherapy Journal (IBPJ).
049-070 36052

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How to Cite

Shahri, H. (2017). Traumatic Memories: A Neuroscience Perspective. Bioenergetic Analysis, 27(1), 49–70. https://doi.org/10.30820/0743-4804-2017-27-49

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 1 (2017)

Section

Articles

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license allows private use and unmodified distribution, but prohibits editing and commercial use (further information can be found at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). The terms of the Creative Commons licence only apply to the original material. The reuse of material from other sources (marked with a reference) such as charts, illustrations, photos and text extracts may require further permission for use from the respective copyrights holder.