Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T23:08:40.606Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Minding the findings: Let's not miss the message of memory reconsolidation research for psychotherapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2015

Bruce Ecker
Affiliation:
Coherence Psychology Institute, Oakland, CA 94610. [email protected]@[email protected]://www.coherenceinstitute.org
Laurel Hulley
Affiliation:
Coherence Psychology Institute, Oakland, CA 94610. [email protected]@[email protected]://www.coherenceinstitute.org
Robin Ticic
Affiliation:
Coherence Psychology Institute, Oakland, CA 94610. [email protected]@[email protected]://www.coherenceinstitute.org

Abstract

That memory reconsolidation is the process underlying decisive, lasting therapeutic change has long been our proposal, and the recognition of its critical role by Lane et al. is a welcome development. However, in our view their account has significant errors due to neglect of research findings and neglect of previous work on the clinical application of those findings.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ecker, B. (2008) Unlocking the emotional brain: Finding the neural key to transformation. Psychotherapy Networker 32(5):4247, 60.Google Scholar
Ecker, B. (2011) Reconsolidation: A universal, integrative framework for highly effective psychotherapy. Blog post, January 13, 2011. Available at: http://tiny.cc/r3ttfx.Google Scholar
Ecker, B. (2013) Nonspecific common factors theory meets memory reconsolidation: A game-changing encounter? The Neuropsychotherapist 2:134–37.Google Scholar
Ecker, B. (2015) Memory reconsolidation understood and misunderstood. International Journal of Neuropsychotherapy 3(1):246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ecker, B., Ticic, R. & Hulley, L. (2012) Unlocking the emotional brain: Eliminating symptoms at their roots using memory reconsolidation. Routledge.Google Scholar
Ecker, B., Ticic, R. & Hulley, L. (2013) A primer on memory reconsolidation and its psychotherapeutic use as a core process of profound change. The Neuropsychotherapist 1:8299.Google Scholar
Ecker, B. & Toomey, B. (2008) Depotentiation of symptom-producing implicit memory in coherence therapy. Journal of Constructivist Psychology 21:87150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forcato, C., Argibay, P. F., Pedreira, M. E. & Maldonado, H. (2009) Human reconsolidation does not always occur when a memory is retrieved: The relevance of the reminder structure. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 91:5057.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
LeDoux, J. E., Romanski, L. & Xagoraris, A. (1989) Indelibility of subcortical emotional memories. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 1:238–43.Google Scholar
Morris, R. G., Inglis, J., Ainge, J. A., Olverman, H. J., Tulloch, J., Dudai, Y. & Kelly, P. A. (2006) Memory reconsolidation: Sensitivity of spatial memory to inhibition of protein synthesis in dorsal hippocampus during encoding and retrieval. Neuron 50:479–89.Google Scholar
Nader, K., Schafe, G. E. & Le Doux, J. E. (2000) Fear memories require protein synthesis in the amygdala for reconsolidation after retrieval. Nature 406:722–6.Google Scholar
Pedreira, M. E., Pérez-Cuesta, L. M. & Maldonado, H. (2004) Mismatch between what is expected and what actually occurs triggers memory reconsolidation or extinction. Learning and Memory 11:579–85.Google ScholarPubMed
Sevenster, D., Beckers, T. & Kindt, M. (2012) Retrieval per se is not sufficient to trigger reconsolidation of human fear memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 97:338–45.Google Scholar
Wampold, B. E. (2001) The great psychotherapy debate: Models, methods, and findings. Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Welling, H. (2012) Transformative emotional sequence: Towards a common principle of change. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration 22(2):100–36.Google Scholar