The impact of dissociation on perceptual priming and intrusions after listening to auditory narratives

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the causal role of dissociation in intrusive memory development and possible underlying aberrant memory processes (e.g., increased perceptual priming). Using an audio-only adaption of the trauma film paradigm, we divided 60 participants into 3 conditions and presented them with different visual tasks—mirror staring, dot staring, or neutral images. The former 2 conditions were hypothesized to induce dissociation. Postaudio, a number of factors were assessed, including state dissociation, perceptual priming and conceptual priming, as well as intrusions over 3 days. Participants in the dissociation conditions displayed an increase in perceptual priming compared to those in the control condition and reported more distressing intrusions. No differences were found in conceptual priming and the overall number of intrusions between conditions. Findings contribute to the growing knowledge on the impact of dissociation and cognitive processing in the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder intrusions.

KEYWORDS:

• Dissociation
• intrusions
• perceptual priming
• posttraumatic stress disorder

Notes

^1. The neutral clip was compiled from the movie Chasing Amy (1997; rated R16, offensive material was removed). The threat clip was compiled from the movie Rendition (2007; rated R16).