The Art Therapy Relational Neuroscience Memory Reconsolidation Protocol

Publication date: Available online 12 March 2019Source: The Arts in PsychotherapyAuthor(s): Noah Hass-Cohen, Joanna M.A. Clyde FindlayAbstractNovel and rewarding experiences can reconsolidate people's memories and recalibrate their reactions to past events. Memory reconsolidation (MR) is a positive process whereby as autobiographical memories are recalled, they return to a labile state, and can be either reinforced or updated before reconsolidation. Thus, updating fear-based memories with non-fearful information may lead to permanent reduction in automatic responses and lasting changes to distressing memories. During recall, both implicit and explicit memories may be updated. The arts therapies offer rewarding and creative access to nonverbal autobiographical memories, as well as mitigate habitual reactions. When informed by the neuroscience of MR, art therapy relational neuroscience (ATR-N) practices support therapeutic MR dynamics. In support of these theoretical claims, the relevant literature is reviewed and then illustrated by a MR-ATR-N trauma-based protocol.
Source: Arts in Psychotherapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research