Memory control impairments in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder - Ver1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Memory control impairments in adults with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A multimodal imaging investigation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG).
IRAS ID
128083
Contact name
Michael Anderson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder resulting from exposure to a severe traumatic event. Amongst other symptoms, PTSD is characterized by recurrent intrusive memories of the traumatic event in the form of flashbacks, nightmares or thoughts. This may be related to an impairment in suppressing unwanted thoughts or memories in this population.
The aim of the current project is to further investigate the nature of memory control deficits in people who have experienced trauma, with or without a diagnosis of PTSD. In particular, the current project aims to link a series of separate investigations, using various imaging techniques. This set of studies, employing techniques such as structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography, will explore potential impairments and adaptive mechanisms in the neural networks modulating memory control after trauma. Furthermore this project will also aim to investigate ways in which some techniques, namely memory suppression training and real time functional magnetic resonance imaging, may help to improve memory control in people with PTSD.
To carry out these studies we will aim to recruit a variety of individuals, including those who have a current diagnosis of PTSD, as well as those who have experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime but who have never developed PTSD. We will compare neural anatomy, function and physiology between these groups using the techniques named above. For functional investigations we will compare groups’ performance and patterns of neural activation for tasks involving the presentation of neutral and emotionally valenced images.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0217
Date of REC Opinion
27 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion